I just don’t find this that odd. Here in NJ we’ve elected many GOP Governors, including recently, Christie twice.
We have never, as long as I can remember, elected a GOP Senator. Governors races are fairly meaningless. People view them very differently than federal appointments.
I don’t find this strange at all except in AZ in general where you’d think a DEM would never really flourish. But then again, they probably see her exactly as they saw McCain.
Plus, 6 years is a long time and the margin you quote isn’t that great. Population could have shifted big time in 6 years and CA residents moving to AZ turning the state purple also account.
Governor elections in New Jersey are held not even in “off-years” (2014, 2018, etc.) but in “off-off-years” (2013, 2017, etc.). Republicans can occasionally win those elections because turnout is usually very low.
that’s about normal considering the rest of NJ state voted BLUE across the board.
In AZ the entire state went red..ie Republican across the board except for a left wing loon as senator?
makes not one bit of sense no matter how people try to spin it.
In commierado we elected Bolshevik governor, inexperienced Bolshevik professor as ag, and a bunch of tax and spend idiots in state house but every tax increase bill or amendment failed (except maybe one “buy more education administrators” bill in Jeffco).