Arizona Republican congressional district to hold special election
Voters will head to the polls today in a special election for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, where Democrat Hiral Tipirneni will challenge Republican Debbie Lesko.
Only two non-Republicans have represented the district since 1977. Indeed, Democrats have not nominated a candidate on the ballot since 2012. However, after Congressman Trent Franks resigned in December amid sexual misconduct allegations, the party launched Ms Tipirneni into the race.
Despite the allegations, as well as a campaign finance advantage to the Democratic challenger, recent polling predicts a Republican victory. Neither candidate is an ideological outlier on the major issues of health care, taxes and guns, but because of the Republican history of this district, simply running as a Democrat puts Ms Tipirneni at a disadvantage.
Political analysts will be closely watching today’s vote for further signs of the so-called “Democratic wave” in the November midterm elections. With recent Republican defeats in races in Alabama and Pennsylvania, a Democratic victory today—or even a close loss—could be yet another indicator of voter dissatisfaction with Washington and of Republican difficulties to come in November.
