(Photo courtesy of Office of Sen. John McCain)

Sen. John McCain

(Courtesy of Kelli Ward Campaign - Facebook)

Kelli Ward is running against Sen. John McCain in 2016 Arizona primary.

Arizona voters go to the polls next Tuesday for the primary election. Arizona incumbent U.S. Sen. John McCain will face a challenger in former state Senator Kelli Ward on the Republican ballot.

McCain has represented Arizona in the Senate since 1987, ran and lost a presidential campaign against Barack Obama in 2008. Fellow Republican Ward is trying to make McCain’s fifth term in the Senate his last.

Ward was a state senator for three years, representing Arizona’s western district five, which includes parts of Mohave and La Paz County.

Before politics she was a physician in Lake Havasu City. In her campaign, Ward is stressing her conservative values and a dissatisfaction with politicians in Washington D.C.

“John McCain’s been there for so long and he’s getting ready to celebrate his 80th birthday on Aug. 29 and I want to, and the people that I’m meeting with across the state want to give him a great gift for that birthday— the gift of retirement,” Ward said.

McCain has pushed back with the message that he has institutional knowledge of how the national political system works.

“I think as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee I have a much greater impact on national security," McCain said. "I have the background experience and knowledge. I’m also proud of my record of what I’ve done for Arizona.”

Both have highlighted the issues of national security and border control.

The winner of Arizona’s Republican primary will face Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick in the November election.