PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Felecia Rotellini, the former state financial regulator, will be the Democratic nominee for Arizona attorney general.

State Rep. David Lujan, her opponent in Tuesday's primary, conceded late Thursday. He told The Herald in Sierra Vista that he couldn't make up the more than 1,400 votes he would need to take the lead in the three-way race.

He said he called Rotellini to congratulate her. "She didn't even answer her phone," Lujan said. "So I had to concede by voice mail message."

Who Rotellini will face in November remains undecided as the primary continues to be a tight one for Republicans running for the state's attorney general post.

As of late Thursday, state Schools Superintendent Tom Horne led former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas by fewer than 500 votes. Matthew Benson, a spokesman for the secretary of state's office, told The Herald there were still an estimated 34,000 early ballots that hadn't yet been counted.

On top of that, the office said there were another 20,000 "provisional" ballots cast by people who registration was questioned, most likely because voters showed up at the poll without proper identification. Those ballots will not be counted unless they show up with the necessary documents by the end of the day Friday, the office said.

All three Democrats have worked at one time as assistant attorneys general.

Rotellini also was the superintendent of the Department of Financial Institutions during the administration of Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Terry Goddard, the current attorney general, is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term. He is running for governor against incumbent Jan Brewer.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.