Howard Shanker

Jeffrey Brown, Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District, will be on the primary ballot in September, after thwarting an attempt to remove him due to a lack of valid petition signatures.

 A Maricopa County Superior Court judge found that although Brown's nominating petition did not contain a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify him for the primary ballot, the challenge was made too late to have an effect.

Bethany Hicks, the presiding judge, wrote:

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.   

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."

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.

With Gov. Janet Napolitano's endorsement of CD1 Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has all but endorsed the former state legislator as well. Today, DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen announced that Kirkpatrick has been added to the Red to Blue program, which helps Democratic challengers raise money to capture Republican-held congressional seats.

"Ann's experience in city, county and state government and her commitment to promoting economic development, while protecting Arizona’s environment, will make her an effective voice for clean government and change," said Van Hollen, a Maryland congressman.

In addition to financial support, the program also helps "structure" campaigns to become more effective. Kirkpatrick is one of 11 Democrats in the program vying for an open seat.

"The DCCC's decision shows confidence in Ann's ability to win the primary and be successful in the general election," said Kirkpatrick campaign spokeswoman Mary Bradley.

State Rep. Kyrsten SinemaAs Pres. George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain appeared together in Mesa and Phoenix yesterday, they were shadowed by protesters - including state Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Phoenix) and CD1 congressional candidate Howard Shanker - who hoped to garner more media attention than the fundraising appearances themselves.

As the president and presumptive presidential nominee attended their first joint events since March, raising a reported $3.3 million for the McCain campaign and the Republican Party, throngs of demonstrators, organized by the Arizona Democratic Party, utilized signs, music and street theater to make their opposition known. 

It is largely understood that Native Americans play a major part in Arizona politics - particularly in the north of the state, which comprises the First and Second Congressional Districts. However, exactly to what extent Native Americans influence Arizona electoral politics is a topic of debate.

The Native American Times, though, which boasts a readership of "over a millions hits monthly" on its web page, is saying that not only will congressional races in places possessing a significant Native American population be influenced by their ranks, but the presidential contest itself may be, in part, decided by what Arizona's indigenous population decides in November.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen is optimistic about the chances of Republicans to regain lost ground against Democrats in the Arizona congressional delegation, he said today on Grover Norquist's radio show. However, he said that key to recapturing CD5 will be a Republican primary that keeps the fighting above the belt.

Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report has the latest House ratings. Of the races that are up for grabs Arizona has three that have made the competitive grade.

Rothenberg lists CD1 as a pure toss-up. AZ’s CD1 is one of only 15 pure toss-up districts in the country which will mean lots of national attention from both sides.