Farnsworth may be hurting himself long-term

With Senate President Tim Bee on his way out the door, LD22 Republican Thayer Verschoor is in line to become the next senate president if Republicans hold onto the state senate.  Because LD22 Republican Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is term-limited, In a normal election year they would change seats.  But with the possibility of senate president in front of him, local Republicans think it is unreasonable for anyone to think Verschoor would move over to a state representative seat.

If Farnsworth decided to take one term off, the senate seat would be his and the Republicans would rally around him for being a loyal team player.  Except that’s not the case.  Farnsworth has decided to challenge Verschoor for the seat in the September primary. 

This could become one of the most heated primary races as Republicans don’t see much of a difference between the two when it comes to policy positions.  If positions are not that different then the only place to really go will be personal.  Local Republican leaders admit if there is a candidate who can beat Verschoor, it is Farnsworth.  Farnsworth is an aggressive campaigner, well known and money won’t be an issue.  But Farnsworth is treading on thin water according to one source.  “If Farnsworth loses, and make it a personal and negative race, Verschoor and other district leaders will remember that and make sure Farnsworth doesn’t have a clean shot at the seat when Verschoor is term-limited after his next term.”

Farnsworth is now facing another problem.  There is a third candidate in the primary, Joe Bedgood.  Bedgood, a Gilbert activist may not win the election, but he could drain enough of the anti-Verschoor vote to keep Farnswroth from winning. 

Could Farnsworth be committing political suicide by challenging the popular Verschoor instead of waiting?  Only time will tell.

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