The countdown to the 2024 Arizona primaries feels more like a general election for Republicans due to some high-stakes contests. Just when CD8 could not get more intense, former President Trump declared his endorsement of both Abe Hamadeh and Blake Masters for the U.S. Senate. With one day left, the anticipation is palpable.

Hamadeh criticized Masters for touting Trump’s prior endorsement from his failed 2022 race against Mark Kelly for one of Arizona’s U.S. senate seats in 2022. Masters can now honestly claim the endorsement.

Here’s a recap of the current state of play in a race being called “the most contentious in the nation.”

• In 2022, Trump endorsed Hamadeh for Attorney General and Blake Masters for the U.S. Senate, but both men were unsuccessful in their respective races.

• In December 2023, Hamadeh received another endorsement from Trump specifically for the CD8 race. In March 2024, the Senate hopeful even held a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.

• J.D. Vance endorsed Masters in October 2023 before being selected as Vice President. Vance and Masters are friends, both of whom share a connection with billionaire Peter Thiel. In 2021, they teamed up to write an article for the New York Post.

• The battle of the polls has been ongoing. The Arizona Globe detailed previous poll results, which you can read here.

• On July 17, the Arizona Globe reported another shocking poll, “Abe Hamadeh 27.7%, Trent Franks 21.7%, Ben Toma 19.6%, Masters was at 9%, and Kern 7%.”

• On July 30, Data Orbital released a poll, “Masters came in first with 22.6 percent support, and Hamadeh came in second with 20 percent. They were followed by Toma with 17.3 percent, Franks with 12.8 percent, and Kern with 5.3 percent.”

Trump’s last-minute clarification of his endorsement of both Senate hopefuls, Abe Hamadeh and Blake Masters, was surprising but not entirely unexpected. By endorsing both candidates, Trump ensures he maintains consistency with his candidate for Vice President. Peter Thiel, one of Trump’s major donors in 2016, also supports Masters, adding to the intrigue.

The former president might be hedging his bets, as demonstrated by his similar move in Missouri on July 28, where he endorsed all three major Republican candidates for Governor.

The race for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most contentious in recent history. Hamadeh can boast that he is the only candidate endorsed by both Trump and Kari Lake. However, the competition between Hamadeh and Masters might split the MAGA vote, potentially allowing other candidates like Ben Toma, Trent Franks, or Anthony Kern to capitalize on the divided support.

Pundits say that Trump’s dual endorsement may have come too late to make a significant difference, as many voters have already cast their ballots or made up their minds.

Hamadeh’s spokesperson told the Arzona Globe, “Blake Masters continues to hide in Tucson while relying on deceptive ads full of blatant lies. Fortunately, the voters of Arizona’s 8th district see through his tactics and have become so disenchanted with his campaign that even a second-place finish seems unlikely.”