Russell Pearce’s Disastrous Arizona Campaign Is Over

Immigration hardliner Russell Pearce’s burning desire to return to office in Arizona got doused with cold water on Tuesday night when he lost the Republican primary for state Senate to a moderate businessman who took a softer tone on immigration.

It was the second time in less than a year that Pearce, a tea party favorite who was once one of the most powerful politicians in Arizona, was put to bed by a moderate and it marked the end of a disastrous attempt to regain his standing in state politics.

His campaign was marred by typos, fundraising problems, an uproar that involved him questioning the bravery of the Colorado massacre victims and a murder-suicide carried out by a former friend.

When the voting was done, Bob Worsley, the wealthy founder of the in-flight shopping company SkyMall, was on top 56 percent to 44 percent, and journalists were being kicked out of Pearce’s election night party in Mesa, Ariz.

“This is the same Russell Pearce who said he’d never lose a primary,” political organizer Randy Parraz told the Arizona Republic on Tuesday. “He misjudged the fact that he was no longer a conservative Republican — he was an extreme tea party Republican. There’s no comeback for Russell Pearce — he’s done.”