The moderate wing of the Democratic Party has secured a rare victory in Arizona's 4th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Greg Stanton fended off progressive challenger Kai Newkirk in the primary election.
The win marks a significant departure from recent trends, as socialists have made inroads in other Democratic primaries in New York, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. Newkirk, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, had run a campaign focused on criticizing Stanton's support for business interests and Israel.
However, those angles failed to resonate with voters in Arizona, allowing Stanton to advance to November's general election as a strong favorite to win a fifth term in the House of Representatives.
The campaign was marked by controversy, particularly over Stanton's relationship with business interests and his stance on Israel. Newkirk criticized Stanton for voting to send aid to Israel, opposing efforts to restrict arms sales to the country, and voting to sanction the International Criminal Court for pursuing cases against Israeli leaders.
Stanton, who receives support from AIPAC, has called for ceasefires and backed a two-state solution to end the war in the region. He has also called for greater oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and criticized the Trump administration's immigration agenda.
Newkirk's campaign was also marred by controversy, as a number of local activists and party organizations retracted their endorsements in July after allegations of sexual assault were made against a former supporter. The Young Democrats of Arizona and a leader within the Democratic Socialists of America's Phoenix chapter both pulled their endorsements of Newkirk, citing concerns about his behavior.
The final stretch of the election saw Newkirk struggling to recover from the controversy, which ultimately proved too much for his campaign to overcome. Stanton's victory marks a significant win for the moderate wing of the Democratic Party in Arizona, and sets him up for a strong chance of winning re-election in November.
