PHOENIX (AP) — Sen. John McCain beat back a primary challenge Tuesday from a Republican tea party activist to win the right to seek a sixth term in November in a race that has been inundated with questions about GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The 2008 GOP presidential nominee easily defeated former state Sen. Kelli Ward and two other Republicans.

He faces a tough Democratic challenge in the November general election from U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. She advanced Tuesday after facing only a write-in opponent in the primary.

McCain vowed to not take the primary for granted, and he campaigned hard until the end. McCain rallied volunteers and staff and made get-out-the-vote stops as he turned 80 on Monday.

But the contest between Ward and McCain was often overshadowed by Trump and his outspoken comments.

Trump had attacked many issues dear to the Arizona senator, including the family of a fallen soldier, NATO and even McCain's own military service and time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Yet McCain has stuck by his support for Trump, at times seemingly through gritted teeth. He has repeatedly avoided calling Trump by name, instead saying he'll support his party's nominee.

McCain made no mention of Trump or his many divisive comments in his victory speech Tuesday night, but he sought to strike an inclusive tone as he praised his Latino, Asian-American and Middle Eastern supporters.

"There is a lot at stake in this election, no matter who wins the presidency," McCain said. "Most of all, it's important that Republicans can fight for the resources our military needs to allow the men and women of our armed forces to continue doing what they do best: keeping us safe from all enemies, defending our interest wherever they are threatened, and exemplifying the values we believe all humanity is entitled to."

Ward had been mainly ignored by McCain, but she got national attention by saying in recent interviews that the senator would be unable to complete another six-year term because of his age. Ward also cast the race as a David and Goliath battle, but could not overcome his huge spending advantage and name recognition.

"I thought we ran an amazing race like had never been seen against an entrenched career politician," Ward told The Associated Press. "Of course I would have rather we won. I think it would have been better for Arizona, better for America and better for the world. But we did what we could with very limited resources and it's been amazing."

McCain is one of two longtime politicians in their 80s who easily won primaries Tuesday in Arizona.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio won the Republican primary despite a cloud of legal troubles hanging over him. He trounced three opponents with little money after raising $11.3 million — a staggering sum for a sheriff's race. He will face retired Phoenix police Officer Paul Penzone, the same opponent who took on Arpaio in 2012.

Ryan Lukens, a deliveryman, stopped by a central Phoenix polling site after work. The Republican cast a vote against Arpaio, citing his litany of legal problems. But he said McCain continues to have his support.

"He has the influence that is needed to keep Arizona great," he said.

Kim Martinetti, a real estate broker, said she voted for someone other than McCain for the first time. She thinks McCain acts more like a Democrat and wants to grant amnesty.

"I don't believe in what Trump says about sending them all home — all the illegal immigrants — but I don't think an open border is the answer," Martinetti said. "McCain believes in that."

All nine U.S. House seats also are on the primary ballot, though just a few are tight races.

A heavily GOP district in the eastern Phoenix suburbs, for instance, features a four-way race among Republicans who want to replace retiring Rep. Matt Salmon. Senate President Andy Biggs and former dot-com executive Christine Jones led the field.

And in a sweeping district that includes much of Arizona outside the Tucson and Phoenix metro areas, five Republicans are vying for the chance to advance to November and face the Democrat seeking Kirkpatrick's seat. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu was leading.

And Rep. Paul Gosar won his primary in a heavily Republican district that stretches from the Phoenix suburbs all the way to the California border.

The other statewide contest features a five-way race among Republicans seeking three seats on the state's utility regulation panel, the Arizona Corporation Commission.

___

Associated Press writers Astrid Galvan and Terry Tang contributed to this story.