United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2008
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The 2008 congressional elections in Arizona will be held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Arizona in the United States House of Representatives. Arizona has eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
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[edit] District breakdown
[edit] District 1
Arizona's 1st congressional district has been represented by Republican Rick Renzi since 2003. In August 2007, Renzi announced he would not seek re-election, [1] four months after the FBI raided Renzi's family business as part of a federal investigation. Renzi received only 52% of the vote compared to 44% for his Democratic opponent – Sedona civil rights attorney Ellen Simon – in 2006; George W. Bush won 54% of the vote in this northern Arizona district in 2004. So far, publisher and former Phoenix TV newscaster Mary Kim Titla, Winslow Mayor Allan Affeldt, Sedona civil engineer/architect and author Brent Geer Maupin, attorney Howard Shanker and state Representative Ann Kirkpatrick are declared candidates. (Simon had announced her intention to run again, but then dropped out in May 2007, citing personal reasons.) The DCCC has talked with attorney Jim Ledbetter. Other potential Democratic candidates include Arizona Department of Environmental Quality director Steve Owens; 2006 U.S. Senate candidate and wealthy real estate developer Jim Pederson, former Casa Grande mayor Bob Mitchell, who is the brother of Democratic Congressman Harry Mitchell; andPinal County attorney Carter Olson.[2] On the Republican side of the aisle, public affairs consultant Sydney Ann Hay, who ran unsuccessfully in 2002, has announced her candidacy [3]. Other potential Republican candidates include state Senator Tom O'Halloran, state Representative Bill Konopnicki, and former Navajo County Supervisor Lewis Tenney.
[edit] District 2
[edit] District 3
Arizona's 3rd congressional district has been represented by Republican John Shadegg since 1995. An outspoken conservative, Shadegg has consistently been re-elected in this Republican-leaning district (Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+6) in the northern Phoenix suburbs which gave George W. Bush 57.9 percent of the vote in 2004. However, Democratic tax attorney Bob Lord has outraised Shadegg in the first quarter of 2007 and even has more cash on hand compared to Shadegg, which could result in an unusually competitive race. However, Shadegg's campaign team has noted that Shadegg's funds are smaller than expected due to Shadegg donating most of the money in 2006 to fellow Republicans in a last-ditch, albeit lackluster attempt to retain control of Congress. [1] A campaign spokesperson has also noted that Shadegg will be well-funded. Shadegg's 2006 opponent, consultant Herb Paine, has announced his support for Independent candidate Annie Loyd. Libertarian Mark Yannone [2]is also running. Shadegg's district was previously held by Arizona's junior United States Senator, Republican Jon Kyl.
[edit] District 4
[edit] District 5
Arizona's 5th congressional district has been represented by Democrat Harry Mitchell since 2007. Mitchell unseated conservative Republican J.D. Hayworth by 50% to 47% in this Republican-leaning district (Cook PVI: R+4) in the northeastern Phoenix suburbs that gave George W. Bush 54% of the vote in 2004. The largely Republican nature of this district make a tough 2008 race certain, though Mitchell, who has a government complex in Tempe named after him, has won a lot of tough elections in the past. He will be seriously opposed in 2008. Former state Representative Laura Knaperek,[3] and Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, have announced their candidacies, and State Representative Mark Anderson has formed an exploratory committee.
[edit] District 6
Arizona's 6th congressional district has been represented by Republican Jeff Flake since 2001. Flake has won publicity for his opposition to pork barrel projects and advocacy for earmark reform. However, he may face serious primary opposition. State Representative Russell Pearce, a border security advocate and former police officer, has criticized Flake on the issue of illegal immigration and has admitted that he may run [4]. Richard Grayson, an Apache Junction resident who ran as a write-in candidate in Florida's U.S. House District 4 in 2004, has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for this seat as a Democrat. There was no Democratic candidate in this district in 2004 or 2006. George W. Bush won 64% here in 2004.
[edit] District 7
[edit] District 8
Arizona's 8th congressional district has been represented by Democrat Gabrielle Giffords since 2007. Giffords defeated conservative Republican Randy Graf by a 54% to 42% margin in 2006. If Republicans recruit a moderate candidate similar to her predecessor, 11-term Republican Jim Kolbe, Giffords could have a difficult re-election bid. Republicans are hoping that state Senate President Tim Bee runs in 2008. They have been heartened by Bee's announcement that he is forming an exploratory committee for a possible campaign [5]. Independent Derek Tidball [6] is also running for the seat. Bush narrowly won here with 52% to 47% for John Kerry in 2004.
[edit] References
- ^ Arizona's Rep. Rick Renzi to retire Associated Press August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2007
- ^ Mike Sunnucks, "Replacements waiting in wings as Renzi ponders resignation", Phoenix Business Journal, April 23, 2007
- ^ Hay seeks GOP nomination for Renzi seat Associated Press August 30, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2008
| Preceded by 2006 elections |
United States House elections in Arizona 2008 |
Succeeded by 2010 elections |
