Police reported that a Democratic contender for a Senate seat in Arizona died in an early-morning DUI collision in Tucson on Friday.
According to the Tucson Police Department, John McLean, 68, passed away when Michael Martin Creel, 27, reportedly ran a stop sign and collided with his car. Due to charges of homicide and aggravated DUI, Creel is being detained at the Pima County Jail.
Police concluded that speed and intoxication were known contributing factors to the deadly collision, and McLean passed away at the spot.
A DUI complaint against Creel was dropped in December 2023, according to court records that local news organization 13 News was able to obtain.
The Democrats in the Arizona Senate also confirmed McLean’s death.
“The news of LD17 Senate Candidate John McLean’s demise breaks our hearts. He fought for a better Arizona in his last days, and we are incredibly grateful for his efforts and commitment to our wonderful state,” the group wrote in a statement on X. “We extend our deepest sympathies to John’s family and loved ones.”
McLean was vying with Republican Vince Leach for the Arizona Senate seat representing District 17. In a statement, Leach also expressed his sympathies to McLean’s friends and family.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the McLean family for their tragic loss today,” Leach stated. “John was a decent man who ran his campaign with integrity. My thoughts and prayers are with John’s family and friends during this extremely trying time.
On Friday afternoon, election returns showed that Leach was ahead of McLean by over 3,000 votes. Less than twenty-four hours before to the collision, McLean, who was making his first run for office, had conceded the race.
“Being the Democratic nominee for the LD17 Senate seat has been a privilege and an honor. “I am proud of the work that so many people put into our campaign, even though the outcome isn’t what we hoped for,” McLean wrote on his campaign’s Facebook page.
In a statement, state senator Mitzi Epstein expressed her condolences, stating that she had just had a conversation with McLean Monday.
John and I had a conversation on Monday of this week. He was always optimistic about Arizonans. He took up a volunteer role that involved long hours each day, and he brightened every door with his kind words and smile. In a post on X, Epstein said, “My heart is with his family.”
McLean was a “true public servant,” according to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who also referred to his passing as a “tragic loss.”
“John genuinely cared about Arizona and was a public servant. He will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to doing what was best for his community. My heart aches for his family and loved ones; this is a terrible loss. Hobbs posted on X, “I’m sending all my love to those who knew him.”
The investigation into the deadly collision is still ongoing, according to the police.