Phoenix — Former Phoenix City Council member Yasamin Ansari has secured the Democratic nomination for Arizona’s open congressional district in a tight race that will likely be a key factor in the November general election, beating her opponent by 39 votes.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Ryan-Tuhill announced the primary results in her downtown Phoenix courtroom Tuesday, declaring Ansari the winner over former state Rep. Raquel Teran.
After the results were announced, Ansari took to social media to thank voters.
“Now is the time for us to come together and ensure a Democratic victory in November,” she said.
In a post on X, Terran admitted defeat in the competition and said he called Ansari to congratulate him.
“The recount was completed this morning, and we came incredibly close, but we lost this time,” Teran said. “That 39-vote margin proves what we already know as Democrats: every vote counts.”
Ansari will face Republican Jeff Zinke in the November general election, who unsuccessfully sought the seat in 2022 when he lost to Democrat Ruben Gallego.
Pastor Zinke and his son were among those outside the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection on January 6, 2021. He has disputed the charges against his son and has questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The recount process began on Aug. 12 after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors certified the July 30 primary results. Arizona law requires an automatic recount if the margin of victory between candidates is 0.5 percent or less. With Ansari and Terán falling into that category with a 42-vote margin (0.1 percent), Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes petitioned the court to begin the recount.
Ansari, the daughter of Iranian immigrants and former Phoenix vice mayor, ran on a platform of progressive policies, promising to protect democracy and reproductive rights from what she called “MAGA extremists.”
Terran touted her work as a community activist who helped oust Joe Arpaio from the Maricopa County sheriff’s office. She also highlighted her experience as a former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.
The Democratic-leaning 3rd District includes parts of Phoenix. The seat opened up when Gallego announced he was running for Senate. He will face Republican Kari Lake in that race.
Arizona is already one of the most competitive states in the November U.S. presidential election, and experts predict an even tighter race down the ticket. Voter issues on abortion and immigration are also expected to boost turnout in key states.
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Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
