Sen. John McCain easily beats Kelli Ward

PHOENIX — Sen. John McCain beat back a primary challenge Tuesday from a Republican tea-party activist to win the right to seek a sixth term in November in a race that has been inundated with questions about GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The 2008 GOP presidential nominee easily defeated former state Sen. Kelli Ward and two other Republicans. McCain had 53 percent to Ward’s 37 percent in incomplete results late Tuesday.

He faces a tough Democratic challenge in the November general election from U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. She advanced Tuesday after facing only a write-in opponent in the primary.

McCain vowed to not take the primary for granted, and rallied volunteers and staff and made get-out-the-vote stops as he turned 80 on Monday.

But the contest between Ward and McCain was often overshadowed by Trump and his outspoken comments.

Trump had attacked many issues dear to the Arizona senator, including the family of a fallen soldier, NATO and even McCain’s own military service and time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

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Yet McCain has stuck by his support for Trump, at times seemingly through gritted teeth. He has avoided calling Trump by name, instead saying he’ll support his party’s nominee.

In his victory speech Tuesday night, McCain sought to strike an inclusive tone as he praised his Latino, Asian-American and Middle Eastern supporters.

“There is a lot at stake in this election, no matter who wins the presidency,” McCain said. “Most of all, it’s important that Republicans can fight for the resources our military needs to allow the men and women of our armed forces to continue doing what they do best: keeping us safe from all enemies, defending our interests wherever they are threatened, and exemplifying the values we believe all humanity is entitled to.”

Ward got national attention by saying in recent interviews that the senator would be unable to complete another six-year term because of his age. Ward also cast the race as a David and Goliath battle, but could not overcome his huge spending advantage and name recognition.

“I thought we ran an amazing race like had never been seen against an entrenched career politician,” Ward said. “Of course I would have rather we won. I think it would have been better for Arizona, better for America and better for the world.”