Wenona Benally Baldenegro, a member of the Navajo Nation, lost her bid to win the Democratic nomination for Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

Baldenegro, an attorney, wanted to be the first American Indian woman in Congress. But Democrats in the heavily-Indian district chose Ann Kirkpatrick, who previously served in the House, as their candidate.

Kirkpatrick, who was born and raised on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, sponsored several pro-Indian bills during the 111th Congress. She will face Republican Jonathan Paton in the November general election.

The newly redrawn 1st Congressional District covers all or parts of 12 reservations. Kirkpatrick represented the district under its old boundaries before she was defeated in 2010.

In other primary news, Richard Carmona, who served as U.S. Surgeon General during the Bush administration, won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. As a physician in southern Arizona, he frequently served patients from the Tohono O'odham, Yaqui and other tribes.

Carmona will face Republican Jeff Flake, who currently represents Arizona's 6th Congressional District.

Get the Story:
Paton and Kirkpatrick bounce back with wins (The Arizona Daily Star 8/29)
Jeff Flake wins GOP primary for U.S. Senate (The Arizona Republic 8/29)

Related Stories:
Democratic hopeful opposes Tohono O'odham Nation casino (8/24)
Republican candidate wants to amend IGRA to limit casinos (8/23)