Ducey has worked to create an air of inevitability surrounding his candidacy. He raised millions of dollars, built a coalition of supporters that included national congressional leaders, state lawmakers and social conservatives and attracted the assistance of outside groups that attacked his main rivals, former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and Christine Jones, a former GoDaddy executive.
Gov. Jan Brewer, who had endorsed Smith for governor, said Tuesday that she wholeheartedly supports Ducey and urged Republicans to unify around his campaign. In his acceptance speech, Ducey said he wants to stand on Brewer's shoulders and applauded his GOP rivals' commitment to public service.
"Today is especially a great day for ice cream," Ducey said,hisfamily at his side. "Tonight, our best effort has given us victory."
A ballroom at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix filled with hundreds of Republican supporters cheered him on.
He added, "We're halfway home, and now the real race begins. I want to congratulate Fred (DuVal) on his big win. We now know this guy is simply unstoppable — as long as he doesn't have an opponent," a reference to DuVal's uncontested Democratic primary.
In the final weeks of the primary, both Smith and Jones had questioned Ducey's truthfulness on his record as Cold Stone's CEO, his membership in clubs with only male members, and his proposal to phase out the state's income tax.
He overcame the criticism: Late Tuesday, Ducey had a healthy lead over his five opponents.
Ducey, who has long eyed the Governor's Office, promised voters he would use his private-sector experience to shrink state government, secure the border, target the state's income tax and improve education.
