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Elijah Norton is the projected winner of the Republican nomination for state treasurer, according to the Associated Press.
Norton is the founder of a car insurance company and the former treasurer of the Arizona Republican Party with the backing of Turning Point USA. He ran against Katherine Haley, president of the Arizona State Board of Education, who was endorsed by current state Treasurer Kimberly Yee. Arizona primary election results are unofficial until all votes are tabulated and certified by local election officials.
Norton will now face off against Democrat Nick Mansour in November. Mansour, an entrepreneur and former chairman of the Arizona College of Nursing, hopes to flip the partisan makeup of the office, which has been in solid Republican control for decades.
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In a statement on X, Norton said he was honored by voters' trust and planned to unite the Republican coalition around his campaign.
"Voters were faced with a choice: to nominate a conservative businessman with extensive investment experience, or cede control of our taxpayer dollars to unelected bureaucrats. Thankfully for Arizona, We The People chose the former," Norton wrote.
Norton quickly attacked his new opponent, Mansour, calling him "far-left."
In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Mansour said he wanted to use the treasurer's office to address affordability issues in the state and support more funding for education. He contended he would bring the most business experience to the role since former Gov. Doug Ducey held the position from 2011 to 2015, and pointed to a coalition of business leaders backing his candidacy.
"I think most Arizonans care less about what party you're from than who you are and what you're trying to do," Mansour said. "And I think I'll win on those accounts."
The Treasurer's Office is responsible for roughly $34 billion in assets and helps manage the state's budget. Among its assets are various agency trust funds and Arizona's land trust fund — previously used as a substantial funding source for the state's education system. The office also supports local governments across the Grand Canyon State and includes the Financial Literacy Task Force, which helps offer education on how Arizonans can manage money.
Norton emphasized conservative investment strategies in his campaign, and argued that Haley didn't have the experience with large sums of money needed to become treasurer. In return, Haley contended that Norton's experience as head of a company offering car insurance and extended warranties wasn't sufficient for managing public funds.
Both candidates pushed back against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, saying the state's investments should be strictly nonpartisan. Norton has pledged to launch a statewide audit with a similar goal as the federal government's Department of Government Efficiency, arguing additional oversight is needed to mitigate fraud and waste in the state's coffers.
In recent weeks, supporters of Haley shared an open letter to voters reiterating, among other claims, that Norton fell behind on payments when he was in charge of the Arizona GOP's finances. The letter included signatures from current and former politicians, including Republican Reps. Selina Bliss, Walt Blackman and several county treasurers.
Norton and former Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda have both denied those claims, saying the party thrived once it was under Swoboda's leadership at the start of 2024, and that Norton was integral to the turnaround.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Helen Rummel covers state politics and higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Elijah Norton wins GOP primary for Arizona treasurer
