Arizona state Senate candidate killed in a car crash a day after conceding

TUCSON, Ariz. — A Democratic candidate for the Arizona state Senate was killed when his vehicle was hit by a suspected drunk driver Friday morning, a day after he conceded the race to his GOP rival.

John McLean, 68, was driving a Toyota RAV4 in his hometown of Tucson at about 6 a.m. when a Ford Explorer failed to stop at a stop sign and struck McLean’s vehicle at a high rate of speed as it passed through an intersection, the Tucson Police Department said.

The driver of the Explorer, 27-year-old Michael Martin Creel, was not seriously injured and was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and aggravated driving under the influence. He was booked into Pima County Jail.

An online search did not turn up an attorney who could speak on Creel’s behalf. The Associated Press did not receive an immediate response to a voicemail and email left with the Pima County Public Defender’s Office shortly before the close of business Friday.

The Pima County Democratic Party said in a statement that it was “heartbroken to hear of the tragic death of John McLean.”

“We got to know John on the campaign trail, but as a third generation Arizonan, he has long served Tucson,” the statement said. “John was a leader in Pima County even before he stepped up to better our state, and run for Arizona State Senate.”

Vince Leach, his Republican opponent in the race, sent condolences to McLean’s family and called him “a good man who conducted himself honorably as a candidate.”

The Associated Press had not declared a winner in the race as of late Friday because it was still too early to call. McLean, however, conceded the race Thursday, saying in a Facebook post: “It has been an honor and a privilege to run as the Democratic candidate for the LD17 Senate seat.”

“While the outcome isn’t what we hoped for,” he added, “I am proud of the work that so many people put into our campaign.”

Outgoing GOP Sen. Justine Wadsack, who has held the seat representing the Tucson area since 2022, also sent condolences to McLean’s loved ones.

“John was deeply rooted in Tucson’s community, was a graduate of the University of Arizona, retired Tucson business owner, and regular volunteer with the Humane Society,” she said. “This is a travesty in every way.”