Doug Ducey thanks the crowd for their support in his campaign after winning the Republican gubernatorial candidacy was announced at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in downtown Phoenix on Aug. 26. (Photo by Becca Smouse)Republican state Treasurer Doug Ducey will face Democrat Fred DuVal in Arizona's gubernatorial election in November.
Ducey beat out former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, former GoDaddy executive Christine Jones, former California Rep. Frank Riggs, Secretary of State Ken Bennett and former Maricopa county attorney Andrew Thomas for the GOP nod.
A large crowd of supporters welcomed him at a GOP primary elections party at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, Gov. Jan Brewer and Sheriff Joe Arpaio were among the Arizona leaders present.
Arizona Sen. John McCain congratulates Doug Ducey, who won the Republican gubernatorial candidacy, on Aug. 26 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in downtown Phoenix. (Photo by Becca Smouse)The former Coldstone Creamery CEO opened his speech by saying, "It is a great day for ice cream."
Ducey vowed to keep working hard for Arizona and said he is ready for the campaign to begin.
"I'm going to continue running hard and with your support win in November," he said.
Ducey took a jab at Democratic opponent Fred DuVal, who ran unopposed, after congratulating him on his big win.
"We know he is simply unstoppable as long as he doesn't have an opponent," Ducey said.
DuVal gave a rousing speech to a large crowd of supporters gathered in the Pressroom in downtown Phoenix after primary elections took place.
DuVal told his hundreds of supporters that he is going to fix Arizona and not fall for political tricks.
"We're going to stop fighting and start fixing Arizona for Arizona families," he said.
Current Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer welcomes Doug Ducey, who won the Republican gubernatorial candidacy, to the stage on Aug. 26 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in downtown Phoenix. Brewer announced she felt Ducey had strong promise for the state of Arizona. (Photo by Becca Smouse)DuVal went on to talk about funding education, which was received by chants of "Go Fred Go" from the crowd.
"I will veto all cuts to our schools, and I will keep vetoing bills that hurt schools and universities," DuVal said.
Reach the reporter at jshanco2@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @joey_hancock
