KJZZ

It will be Congressman Jeff Flake facing former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona in the race for U.S. Senate. As KJZZ’s Al Macias reports, campaign finance is already an issue going into the general election.

Congressman Jeff Flake is interviewed by a television reporter at his home on primary election night. (Photo by Al Macias - KJZZ)

AL MACIAS: The Republican primary was a battle between Flake and his opponent. According to the Center for Public Integrity,  a Super PAC called the Club for Growth,  spent more than a million dollars in support of Flakes campaign. On election night Carmona told his supporters in Tucson wants the general election campaigns to focus on Arizona and not be determined by outside interests.

RICHARD CARMONA: So I hope Congressman Flake joins me in calling for Super PACs, and other outside groups to stay the heck out of Arizona. Because we owe all of you an honest and civil discussion on all of the problems you see before us.

MACIAS: At his Mesa home Tuesday night, Flake celebrated with friends and family. During several media interviews he tied Carmona to President Obama. But Flake did not seem keen on taking up Carmona’s challenge. He said the Super PACs like the Club for Growth are legally beyond his control.

JEFF FLAKE: You don’t control that, you don’t know what’s gonna happen. I think you just have to run your own race and hope for the best. [Is that a good thing or a bad thing?] You know that’s just as it is. That’s the world we live in and it’s unsettling as a candidate.

MACIAS: Flake said both he and Carmona have extensive public records that voters will be able to judge both men on. Flake has served 12 years in Congress. Carmona is a Vietnam veteran who served as Surgeon General under President George W. Bush.

Election results can be found on the Arizona Secretary of State's website.