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Dem takes lead in Arizona Senate race 2 days after Election Day

As many as 80k ballots are uncounted in Pima Co.
Posted at 12:32 PM, Nov 07, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-08 19:39:27-05

PHOENIX - Latest polling numbers released from the Secretary of State’s office shows Kyrsten Sinema has taken a slight lead over Martha McSally in the race for Arizona Senate.

As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sinema has 916,380 votes statewide, while McSally has 914,369.

345,000 votes remain uncounted in Maricopa County while a small number of ballots remain uncounted as well in smaller counties.

Officials estimate about 195,000 of those are early ballots, provisional, and out-of-precinct ballots that voters cast or dropped off on Election Day.

It is one of the most-watched races across the country: will Martha McSally, a Republican, or Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, serve as Arizona's first congresswoman?

Both are vying to fill Sen. Jeff Flake's seat after Flake's announcement in 2017 that he would not seek re-election.

As preliminary results started to come in Tuesday evening, the two appeared to be in a dead heat with both flip-flopping for the lead. 

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes expects ballot counting to continue for several days. Officials will continue to update the results daily at 5 p.m.