A former state legislator and Flagstaff lawyer, bolstered by a large amount of contributions and big-name endorsements, beat out three other candidates Tuesday in the Democratic primary in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, the seat now held by indicted Republican Rick Renzi.

Ann Kirkpatrick had 20,318 votes, or 48.7 percent, with 86 percent of precincts reporting. Trailing her were former longtime TV broadcaster Mary Kim Titla with 13,434 votes, or 32.2 percent, and Flagstaff attorney Howard Shanker with 5,665 votes, or 13.9 percent.

“We’re one step closer to bringing real change to Washington, and it feels great,” Kirkpatrick said.

Sydney Hay, a mining industry lobbyist, won by a smaller margin among a field of four Republicans. She had 14,424 votes, or 40 percent, with 86 percent of precincts reporting.

Sandra Livingstone, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Human Dignity International, had 13,037 votes, or 36.2 percent. Two other Republicans trailed far behind.

Renzi, who was elected in 2002, is accused of engineering a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner.

Authorities also contend that he stole from clients of his family owned insurance company to help finance his first congressional campaign.

Several months before he was indicted, Renzi decided not to seek re-election in his largely rural district, setting the stage for one of the nation’s most competitive congressional races.

Democrats vying for the seat raised twice as much as Republican candidates, led by Kirkpatrick, who had the financial backing of Democrats nationwide and a key endorsement from Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Kirkpatrick has begun looking forward to the general election.

“We’ve got a tough race, a huge district, and we’ve got 62 days to bring this home,” she said. “So we’re going to beef up our operation, work extremely hard and get things done.”

Dee Bonner, 62, of Flagstaff, said she voted for Kirkpatrick in hopes that she’ll promote alternative energy, improve the economy, help working families and secure the U.S. border.

That Kirkpatrick is a native Arizonan also appealed to Bonner. “I think she’s more familiar with what’s happening, or at least I hope she is,” she said.

The Democratic and Republican nominees also will face Independent Brent Maupin in the Nov. 4 general election.