by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Throughout the nearly fifty years that I have been voting, I have never been personally represented by a Democratic member of the House of Representatives. I tend to shuffle from one hideously red congressional district to another, and, as a voter, I am always the odd man out. At this point in my life, I don't expect that situation to change - but I will keep doing my bit to vote the bums out anyway.
Today, out in the desert on the western edge of Phoenix, a special election is being held in Arizona's 8th congressional district to select a new member to Congress. The seat, a traditional Republican stronghold that encompasses Luke Air Force Base as well as the stadium where the Arizona Cardinals play their home games, lost its congressman when Trent Franks resigned last winter after it was revealed that he had offered to pay five million dollars to a staffer (or two) to carry a child (pregnancy) for him. Franks had built a career around his staunch anti-abortion beliefs, and some folks felt that Trent's offer of cash for carrying his baby was a bit kinky.
Arizona's 8th is so red that under normal circumstances the race to replace Franks would go to the strongest Republican contender and attract little in the way of national attention. But circumstances this year are far from normal - with Democrats recently picking up a congressional seat in Pennsylvania and a senate seat in Alabama - and national political analyst Charlie Cook (of the Cook Political Report) giving Democrats up to a 65% chance of retaking the House of Representatives this November.
The two candidates in this special election are former state senator Debbie Lesko, the Republican who edged out Franks' hand-picked replacement in the primary, an election that was splintered by several candidates, and Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, a physician and novice political candidate. Various Republican groups have pumped nearly a million dollars into Arizona to support Lesko's campaign during the last couple of weeks. Tipirneni has also received the support of national groups as well as many independent small donors.
Most polls favor Lesko, but by margins smaller than a Republican should expect in Arizona's 8th, and Tipirneni did have a small lead in one poll. An upset is possible.
Voters have already been casting ballots through the mail for the past couple of weeks, and today those who have yet to vote can go to the polls to make their choice. The 8th is my old district, and today is one of those rare days when I wish I was back out in the Arizona heat - voting to make a difference - and make a change.
Go vote, Arizona! Our country needs you!
Citizen Journalist
Throughout the nearly fifty years that I have been voting, I have never been personally represented by a Democratic member of the House of Representatives. I tend to shuffle from one hideously red congressional district to another, and, as a voter, I am always the odd man out. At this point in my life, I don't expect that situation to change - but I will keep doing my bit to vote the bums out anyway.
Today, out in the desert on the western edge of Phoenix, a special election is being held in Arizona's 8th congressional district to select a new member to Congress. The seat, a traditional Republican stronghold that encompasses Luke Air Force Base as well as the stadium where the Arizona Cardinals play their home games, lost its congressman when Trent Franks resigned last winter after it was revealed that he had offered to pay five million dollars to a staffer (or two) to carry a child (pregnancy) for him. Franks had built a career around his staunch anti-abortion beliefs, and some folks felt that Trent's offer of cash for carrying his baby was a bit kinky.
Arizona's 8th is so red that under normal circumstances the race to replace Franks would go to the strongest Republican contender and attract little in the way of national attention. But circumstances this year are far from normal - with Democrats recently picking up a congressional seat in Pennsylvania and a senate seat in Alabama - and national political analyst Charlie Cook (of the Cook Political Report) giving Democrats up to a 65% chance of retaking the House of Representatives this November.
The two candidates in this special election are former state senator Debbie Lesko, the Republican who edged out Franks' hand-picked replacement in the primary, an election that was splintered by several candidates, and Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, a physician and novice political candidate. Various Republican groups have pumped nearly a million dollars into Arizona to support Lesko's campaign during the last couple of weeks. Tipirneni has also received the support of national groups as well as many independent small donors.
Most polls favor Lesko, but by margins smaller than a Republican should expect in Arizona's 8th, and Tipirneni did have a small lead in one poll. An upset is possible.
Voters have already been casting ballots through the mail for the past couple of weeks, and today those who have yet to vote can go to the polls to make their choice. The 8th is my old district, and today is one of those rare days when I wish I was back out in the Arizona heat - voting to make a difference - and make a change.
Go vote, Arizona! Our country needs you!
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