Arizona primaries set matchups in targeted House races
Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran, a former police officer and co-chairman of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, fended off a primary challenge from his left in former Flagstaff City Councilmember Eva Putzova on Tuesday. O’Halleran was leading with 59 percent when The Associated Press called the race.
O’Halleran's GOP challenger is farmer and lawyer Tiffany Shedd, who had 54 percent of the vote to lawyer Nolan Reidhead's 46 percent when the AP called the race at 10 a.m. Mountain time on Wednesday.
Shedd, who is backed by GOP women’s groups looking to grow their numbers in the House, lost a primary to take on O’Halleran in 2018. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the general election Likely Democratic.
Democrats meanwhile are targeting the 6th District outside Phoenix, underscoring their offensive strategy in the suburbs. Trump carried the seat by 10 points, but Democrats are confident they can flip it this cycle, in part because GOP incumbent David Schweikert is mired in a campaign finance scandal. The House last week reprimanded the five-term lawmaker for a series of campaign finance violations and he will have to pay a $50,000 fine.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed former emergency room physician Hiral Tipirneni in the primary, which she comfortably won Tuesday. Tipirneni bested three other Democrats, including 2018 nominee Anita Malik. Tipirneni had 54 percent of the primary vote when the AP called the race.
Tiprineni has proved to be a strong fundraiser, building on the national spotlight from her unsuccessful 2018 bids in the neighboring — and more Republican — 8th District. She raised nearly $2.5 million through July 15 and has a campaign war chest more than five times that of Schweikert’s. Inside Elections rates the race Likely Republican.
https://www.rollcall.com/2020/08/05/arizona-primaries-set-matchups-in-targeted-house-races/
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