For Immediate Release
Monday, August 1, 2022
Contact: Hannah Goss, hgoss@azdem.org
Senate Showdown: It’s the Final Countdown
PHOENIX — Welcome to the *final* edition of the ‘Senate Showdown’ — a weekly roundup of the latest news in Arizona’s “crowded,” “costly,” and “chaotic” GOP Senate primary.
With “no clear frontrunner” and just one day until the primary, these “C-list” candidates are duking it out until the final minute of Arizona’s August 2nd primary. Until then, the Arizona Democratic Party’s ‘Showdown’ is here to help you keep track of this race’s breaking news, cringiest tweets, and nastiest doses of infighting.
Here’s what you missed last week:
“SO DESPERATE, LOL”: Over the last two weeks, Blake Masters and Jim Lamon have poured nearly $4.5 million of their own cash into this race. That monster sum of money plus Peter Thiel’s last-ditch $1.5 million gift to boost his broke boy Blake tells us just how nervous these candidates are…$6 million worth.
COME GET YOUR BOY: Either the supposedly neutral NRSC made a gaffe or they’re liars…either way, they’re clearly anxious for this primary to come to a close. Late last week, the NRSC sent out a desperate fundraising email begging for cash to boost their “deeply flawed” candidates — including Masters…who hasn’t even won his primary yet.
“CUT THE KNOT”: …on their chances of winning a general election. On Friday, the Arizona Republic published a brutal rundown of the field’s plans to dismantle Social Security in a state where 1.35 million folks rely on the program. Between Masters’ calls to “cut the knot” and Lamon’s plan to rip away benefits “because that’s where the money is,” it’s never been more clear just how out of touch they are.
MASTERS’ FLOP ERA: As he presumptuously looks beyond the primary, Blake Masters is already trying to pivot away from his “extreme,” Thielian ideology in the hopes of winning over the general electorate. Too bad for him, because we’re going to call him out every single time he flip flops. Exhibit A: Just 48 hours after insulting Mitch McConnell’s efficacy as Leader, Masters is now singing his praise…almost as if he’s eying the light (read: pile of super PAC money) at the end of the tunnel.
CONSERVATIVES IN CHAOS: No, but really. Turns out, having to choose between five “C-list,” “lesser-known Republicans” is enough to leave the AZ GOP “splintered” and poorly positioned for a general election. Even Republicans can’t help but feel an “overwhelming sense of mediocrity,” when it comes to this bunch of losers, which fills us with an overwhelming sense of joy.
CONSPIRACIES OF THE WEEK: Just add it to the (very long) list. Last week, both Masters and Lamon doubled down on their false and tired lies around the 2020 election, admitting they would have objected to certifying the election. Also last week, Masters was exposed for continuing to promote the baseless and racist “great replacement” theory, yet another fringe myth he spouts to boost his far-right clout.
END OF AN ERA: With just one day until Primary Day, we thought we’d revisit our favorite moments from this wild, long ride of a race. Remember the time Blake launched a set of NFTs with the promise of prizes for those who fell for the scam? Or Lamon’s cowboy cosplay costume? And who could forget the nunchuck video (part 1 and part 2)? What about fakeblakemasters.com? The time Masters called Democrats “psychopaths?” The time no one could spell *Tucson*? How about when Trump thought Lamon was a “bozo?” The puppet show? Brno’s beer drinking championship?
It’s been a wild ride and while the primary may finally be coming to a close between these mediocre candidates, something tells us this won’t be gone for long…XOXO
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