Arizona Corporation Commission

Just as Republicans were gathering for the second day of their national convention in St. Paul, Minn., voters in Arizona went to the polls Tuesday to decide primary elections in a number of key races across the state. Polls closed 8 p.m. Mountain time.

Stay with PolitickerAZ.com for updates and complete results of the top races in the Grand Canyon State.

UPDATE, 11:43 p.m.:

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Arizona Mining Association President Sydney Hay appeared to win the Republican primary in the 1st Congressional District with 96 percent of precincts reporting. Hay will go on to face former state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick in the November general election.

UPDATE, 11:13 p.m.:

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
In a statement released following her win in the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, former state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick touted her campaign war chest and the number of campaign offices she has in the district.

UPDATE, 10:51 p.m.:

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY
In the Democratic primary for Maricopa County attorney, Gerald Richard has called to congratulate Tim Nelson on his win.

UPDATE, 10:21 p.m.:

5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert beat telecommunication lobbyist Susan Bitter Smith and other GOP candidates in the crowded Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District. Schweikert will face Democratic U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell in the November general election.

UPDATE, 10:07 p.m:

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT RACES
New numbers are in for legislative distirct races across the state.

UPDATE, 9:21 p.m.:

ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION
State Rep. Bob Stump has earned one of the three Republican spots on the Arizona Corporation Commission ballot for November.

UPDATE, 9:09 p.m.:

1ST AND 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
For Republicans, there are tight races in the 1st and the 5th congressional districts.

In a letter sent to the entire Arizona delegationin the U.S. House and Senate, the Arizona Corporation Commission is urging the state's national legislators to support the extension of the investment tax credit for solar energy and other renewable energy sources. The credit's renewal was passed in the House but is stalling in the Senate, and is set to expire in December of 2008.

"As rising natural gas prices drive the cost of electricity upward," read the letter, "it is vital that Arizona look to alternative sources of energy. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, solar power is the logical choice for our state."

The ACC has been supporting two large-scale solar power projects: The Solana Generating Station, which will cover hundreds of acres at Gila Bend, and another station whose construction costs and output will be shared by a "multi-state consortium of ten southwestern utilities."

In the letter, the ACC warns, "Unless Congress acts soon to extend the 30 percent investment tax credit ("ITC") past its December 31, 2008 expiration date, neither of these projects will come to fruition."

L to R: John Allen, Rick Fowlkes, Keith Swapp, Joseph HobbsLast night, the seven Republican candidates for Arizona Corporation Commission gathered in Scottsdale to present their ideas on how they would operate if elected to the board that oversees Arizona's public utilities. During a rapid-fire series of questions from former state legislator and blogger, Greg Patterson, similarities - such as an across-the-board refutation that global warming is a threat - and differences emerged in experience, philosophy and goals. The conversation was sometimes suprising, sometimes lively, but above all, substantive.