Ann Kirkpatrick has claimed the Arizona District 1 U.S. Representative seat by a decisive victory over Sydney Hay. Independent Brent Maupin and Libertarian Thane Eichenauer each had only single-digit percentages in the eight-county totals.
Kirkpatrick started the race early and worked late. An attorney and Democrat from Coconino County, she has held the District 2 State House seat. But, when word of investigation began into Representative Rick Renzi's outside business affairs, she was among the first to form an exploratory committee for the federal house seat from Congressional District 1.
Renzi refused to step down, but announced he would not run for a third term.
The resulting campaign brought a large field of both Republican and Democratic contenders but Kirkpatrick secured early support and endorsements from the Arizona Democratic leadership.
Hay, who earlier ran a close campaign against Renzi, stood for the Republican ticket. Even though there were four contenders in the General Election, after the Primary, it was all Kirkpatrick and Hay.
The Kirkpatrick campaign war chest built rapidly and her candidacy also received support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which ran a flurry of televisions ads critical of Sydney Hay as a "lobbyist."
The winner today said spoke of the state's independence, "Arizona votes for the person, not the party"
She says her first order of business is to secure "comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level to increase border security."
But, Kirkpatrick also says she has already received a number of constituent requests.
Hay garnered 400 more votes than Kirkpatrick in Yavapai County where both claimed over 40,000 ballots. Hay also won Graham County by 2,000 votes. The remaining six counties all favored Kirkpatrick.
