New Poll: Kelli Ward Leading McSally, Arpaio in Arizona GOP Senate Race

PHOENIX - Exclusive new polling data shows surprising findings about Arizona's hotly contested race to fill Jeff Flake's Senate seat.

Joe Arpaio is falling behind in the Republican Primary for U.S. Senate in Arizona, the new poll from ABC15/OHPI shows.

The poll, conducted April 10 and 11, asked likely GOP primary voters who they would vote for in an August election between Kelli Ward, Martha McSally, and Joe Arpaio.

In total, 55% of respondents had a very or somewhat favorable opinion of Arpaio, but the former Maricopa County sheriff only captured 22% of the GOP primary vote.

Ward came out ahead, with 36% of the vote, compared to 27% for McSally and 22% for Arpaio.

These latest numbers show a huge swing since a January poll, conducted the same day Arpaio announced his Senate run, which had the former Maricopa County sheriff in a dead heat with then-front-runner McSally. In the January 9 results, Ward came in with the lowest percentage of the three candidates.

According to the Wednesday poll, 15% of likely GOP voters are still undecided in their primary choice.

The winner will go on to face the presumptive Democratic nominee Rep. Kyrsten Sinema in the November general election.

Our Arizona senate race is already on the national stage because of its potential impact on the swing of power in Washington.

It was October when Sen. Jeff Flake announced that he would not run for re-election.