After nearly a week of counting votes, Tom Horne appears to have clinched the Republican nomination for state attorney general.

Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer Gov. Jan Brewer greets supporters Tuesday night at Arizona Republican Party headquarters in Phoenix.

With all of Maricopa County's ballot now counted, Horne late Saturday had an 853 vote lead over Andrew Thomas. And Thomas, the former Maricopa County attorney, was depending on the last of the uncounted ballots in the state's largest county, where he beat Horne, to carry him over the top.

Calls to the Thomas campaign Saturday night were not immediately returned. But Horne, who had not heard from Thomas, said that's irrelevant.

"It's an absolute certainty now,'' Horne told Capitol Media Services.''

Horne said there are only about 3,000 "provisional'' ballots left to be counted in the entire state from Mohave, Pinal, Yavapai, Apache and Coconino counties. He said that, given the results already reported from those counties, those final ballots should break about half and half.

Even if they do not, Horne said, it is doubtful that Thomas could make up that 853 vote deficit with what is left.

Barring some unusual turn of events, that means Horne, currently the state school superintendent, will face off in November against Democrat Felecia Rotellini. She is a former assistant attorney general and was the superintendent of the Department of Financial Institutions in the Napolitano administration.

She won a three-way battle to gain the Democratic nomination.

The race between Thomas and Horne was one of the nastiest in recent history.

Thomas openly accused Horne of being a "con man,'' the result of a settlement he signed years ago with the Securities and Exchange Commission admitted he wilfully violated the agency's regulations. He also faulted Horne for failing to report a bankruptcy as required by state law.

Horne, in turn, pointed to the investigation the State Bar of Arizona is conducting against Thomas over whether he misused his power as county attorney to pursue political foes.

Republicans hold the edge in voter registration in Arizona. But prior elections have shown that divisive Republican primaries in the attorney general's race can result in the office going to a Democrat.

In an equally close race, Felicia Rotellini defeated David Lujan 120,025 to 117,606 in the race for the Democratic candidacy for Attorney General. Former Douglas resident Vince Rabago was a distant third with 51,662 votes.

Other races

Democrat Terry Goddard will face incumbent Republican Jan Brewer in the Governor’s race. Brewer easily outdistanced her opponents, taking 82 percent of the vote. Also in the race is Libertarian Barry Hess and Green Party candidate Larry Gist.

In the race for Secretary of the State, Democrat Chris Deschene will face off against Republican Ken Bennett.

Democrat Andrei Cherny will face Republican Doug Ducey for the State Treasurer’s post. Ducey claimed 41 percent of the vote in defeating three other Republicans.

In the vacated Superintendent of Public Instruction seat, Democrat Peggy Kotterman easily defeated Jason Williams and will face Republican John Huppenthal in the November 2 General Election.

In the Legislative race in District 25, a current and former legislator will face of for the senate seat.

Democrat Manny Alvarez was unopposed while Republican Gail Griffin easily defeated Craig Smith, 9,549 to 5,607.

In the race for the two House seats, Democratic Incumbent Pat Fleming and former legislator Ruben Ortega will face incumbent Republican David Stevens and Peggy Judd.

How Cochise County voted

There were few surprises in the Primary Election and, for the most part, Cochise County voters ballots followed the trend for the rest of the state.

For more information on how local voters cast their ballots, see story inside.

Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services, contributed to the story.