On Tuesday, Arizona Rep. and GOP Senate nominee Jeff Flake easily defeated his challenger Wil Cardon with 70 percent of the vote. Although he was outraised, Flake received backing from John McCain, Tea Party Republicans and retiring Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl.
Flake’s next challenge for Kyl’s open seat:
The six-term congressman now faces Democrat Richard Carmona, a former U.S. Surgeon General and decorated Vietnam War veteran originally from New York, to contest a seat that Republicans need if they are to have a chance to take control of the Senate in the November election.
"There couldn't be a starker difference between myself and our opponent in the general election ... Richard Carmona was handpicked by President (Barack) Obama to run here in Arizona," Flake told cheering supporters at his home in the east Phoenix Valley.
"We cannot allow someone who agrees lock, stock and barrel with the whole Obama agenda to become senator from Arizona. We've got to have an Arizonan who believes in limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility," he said.