Resignation leaves future of Arizona seat open

PHOENIX – Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ decision to step down from her congressional seat sets up a wide-open race to fill her spot in a conservative-leaning Arizona district that has a history of electing moderates from both parties.

The congresswoman’s decision, announced Sunday, also will trigger not one but two entire election cycles before the end of the year, with different district lines in each thanks to congressional redistricting.

Gov. Jan Brewer will call a special primary election for sometime in April and then a general election in June to fill Giffords’ seat in the 8th Congressional District in southeast Arizona. That will be followed by a regular primary in August and the November general election for the renumbered 2nd District that covers most of her current territory.

Brewer, a Republican, doesn’t have any leeway on when or whether to hold the special election, and said Sunday that politics will not play a role in her selection of a date.

A bevy of Republicans and Democrats have been mentioned as possible candidates, with several in the GOP already having official exploratory committees.

Giffords won her three terms by championing border security and defense, and her predecessor, Republican Jim Kolbe, was a moderate Republican who drew enough Democratic voter support to win 11 terms before retiring in 2006.

Giffords barely squeaked out a victory just two months before she was shot, winning by only about 1 percent over a tea party Republican.

Associated Press