Ann Kirkpatrick

First District Congressional candidate Howard Shanker has been very verbal over the last few months about the “anointment” of Ann Kirkpatrick as the nominee.  Ann Kirkpatrick has received from support many Democratic leaders including the DCCC.  Shanker has talked a lot about an open process and not letting the insiders determine the candidate.  But one of Shanker’s supporters is behind the effort to remove fellow CD1 candidate Jeffrey Brown from the ballot.

Stanford Lerch of of Lerch & De Prima PLC Attorney’s (office in Phoenix, Arizona) is challenging the signatures of Brown and trying to prevent him from being added to the ballot.  Lerch is not exactly a neutral observer in the process.  Lerch donated $500 to Shanker’s campaign.

An email to Shanker’s campaign for comment was not answered.   

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsU.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) and state Senate President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) disagree about many things: the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the handgun ban in Washington, D.C. isn't among them.

Both Giffords, the freshman Democratic representative from the 8th district, and Bee, who is running against her for the seat, praised the high court's decision.

"I applaud the Supreme Court’s historic decision to protect an individual’s rights," said Bee. "The decision is a victory for Constitutional Rights. The Second Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms, is vitally important and must be held sacrosanct. We will continue our vigilance in the protection of these rights deemed to be the bedrock of our collective freedoms by the Framers and the Ratifiers of the Constitution.”

Progressive Democrats of America has endorsed attorney Howard Shanker in the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District seat. Shanker received the endorsement over other Democratic candidates Jeffrey Brown, Ann Kirkpatrick and Mary Kim Titla.

Tim Carpenter, PDA National Director, said in the announcement, "We are thrilled to endorse, actively aid, and support Howard for Congress.  Howard is precisely the kind of progressive leader needed in Congress today, who will protect human rights."

The Arizona AFL-CIO has unveiled its endorsements in this year's U.S. House primaries, though only one of the candidates is actually engaged in a primary, and one primary was bypassed altogether.

All candidates who received endorsements were Democrats, and included the four Democratic members of the Arizona House delegation, though none faces a primary. Other recipients were Bob Lord, who is taking on U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) in the 3rd Congressional District; John Thrasher, a Democrat who is running for the second time against U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Glendale) in the 2nd Congressional District; and Ann Kirkpatrick, the front-runner in the 1st Congressional District Democratic pack.

"These candidates share our vision of what is important to Arizona’s working families," said Rebekah Friend, the Arizona AFL-CIO's executive director. "It is crucial for the future of Arizona that we elect those who are going to step up to the plate and fight for the issues that will move Arizona forward. We’re convinced that these candidates will do just that."

Cook Political Report has shifted the 3rd Congressional District race from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican," following the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's addition of challenger Bob Lord to its Red to Blue program.

Lord is facing incumbent U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) in a fight for the 3rd District, where Republican registration outstrips Democratic by a significant margin. However, after Lord's strong fundraising totals and Shadegg's decision to leave the race, which he reversed two weeks later, many, including Cook, see a possibility for Lord to pull an upset.

According to Cook, Lord's "strong fundraising and Shadegg's hesitancy to announce reelection plans" got the attention of the DCCC. In May, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) appeared with Lord in Phoenix to show his support for the first-time candidate, and now, with Lord on the Red to Blue list, the challenger has some potentially serious financial backing as well.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Flagstaff) and Bob Lord (D-Phoenix) to its Red to Blue program.

Kirkpatrick is running against Sydney Hay (R-Munds Park) in the 1st Congressional District for the seat being vacated by Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Flagstaff).

Lord is competing against current congressman John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) in the 3rd Congressional District.

CAMP VERDE -- The Congressional Candidate Forum on the Future of Arizona's Natural Resources brought out most of the AZ-1 field, where the candidates who showed up navigated their way through a proving ground of environmental questions. The whole panel was in agreement on the need for renewable energy investment, even if not all saw a consensus on the fact of global climate change. The biggest question of the afternoon wasn't asked by the moderator, however - it was "where is Sydney Hay?"

The seven participants included Democrats Jeffrey Brown, Ann Kirkpatrick, Howard Shanker and Mary Kim Titla, Republicans Tom Hansen and Preston Korn, and independent Brent Maupin. Two other Republicans who filed, Sandra Livingstone and Barry Hall, declined to participate.

However, Sydney Hay, who has been embraced by the Republican establishment, including the state party and numerous Republican state legislators and members of Congress, did not show up. Audience members and press instead received a letter from Hay that apologized for her absence but gave no explanation.

Most pundits and observers believe the CD1 Congressional race is going to be Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick vs Republican candidate Sydney Hay. While the two do appear to be on a collision course to meet in November unless there is a major upset, there may be another player who has a say in the outcome.

Brent Maupin, a Sedona businessman, is also running for the seat being vacated by Congressman Rick Renzi. Maupin, a lifelong Republican, is running as an independent for the office. Maupin calls himself a “centrist” and thinks both parties are out of touch.

Maupin has retained outside professional help with the addition of Steve Kush and Kush and Associates out of New Jersey to handle his media.

If you visit Maupin’s website, make sure you check out his song “Stand Up America.”

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) today announced the endorsement of  Democratic Congressional candidate Ann Kirkpatrick in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.  LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs and Public Education Tony Massaro joined Kirkpatrick at the kickoff celebration of Conservationists for Kirkpatrick at Flagstaff’s Wheeler Park.
  
“At our state capitol, Ann stood out for her vision and leadership on key conservation issues,” Arizona League of Conservation Voters Board Chair Jessica Catlin said.  “I know she will take those qualities with her to our nation’s capitol.”

John McCain had President George W. Bush into Phoenix for a fundraiser this week and raked in a boat load of money. Ann Kirkpatrick joins McCain as a winner this week while her opponents are losers. Find out who else is a winner or a loser this week.