Thomas concedes GOP attorney general nomination, offers Horne his endorsement

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: BC-CNS-Attorney General,290
  • Photo available (thumbnail, caption below)

By ALYSSA NEWCOMB
Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX – Seven days after Arizonans voted, Andrew Thomas conceded the Republican attorney general nomination to Tom Horne on Tuesday.

Only about 800 votes separated Horne, the state superintendent of public instruction, from Thomas, the former Maricopa County attorney.

“It’s been an exciting race and even more exciting finish, but it’s clear that Tom Horne has won the Republican nomination,” Thomas said in a written statement.

Thomas’ statement offered Horne his endorsement.

During a news conference at his Phoenix campaign headquarters, Horne said Thomas left a gracious message offering his congratulations and support.

Horne, who faces Democratic challenger Felecia Rotellini in the general election, said he and Rotellini differ in many areas, most notably immigration.

“The No. 1 issue is illegal immigration,” he said, adding that he has always been a supporter of SB 1070. He also said he would pressure the federal government to finish the border fence.

Horne said that as attorney general Rotellini would be a “point person for Obama.” He added that the attorney general needs to be someone who will “protect the state from federal encroachments.”

If elected, he pledged to join other state attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Obama administration’s health care plan. “It’s not in the Constitution to buy health care,” he said.

A voicemail left with Rotellini’s campaign headquarters wasn’t returned by late afternoon.

Rotellini, the former superintendent of the State Banking Department, now known as the Department of Financial Institutions, has challenged Horne to three debates, and Horne said he will accept.

However, Horne said he and Rotellini have similar views on one of the topics, the protection of elderly, so it “wouldn’t be much of a debate.” The other topics proposed by Rotellini are fraud and border security.

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Tom Horne celebrates his victory in the Republican primary for state attorney general. GOP challenger Andrew Thomas conceded the tight race Tuesday, setting up a general election battle against Democrat Felecia Rotellini.
(Cronkite News Service Photo by Alyssa Newcomb)