Speculation that U.S. Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) would challenge John McCain in 2016 have been squashed as Gosar says he will “absolutely” pursue his re-election to his current House seat.
Speaking with The Arizona Republic, Gosar definitively stated that his intention is to run for re-election to his current seat in the House of Representatives. Gosar, however, may face his own challengers, the same report indicates.
Rumored potential Gosar challenger, State Senator Kelli Ward (R-Lake Havasu City), may be looking more closely at a McCain challenge herself, rather than challenging Gosar.
McCain reportedly expects a Republican primary challenger if he does indeed run for re-election in 2016. He is expected to run. The Republic notes that the Arizona Republican Party formally censured McCain in 2014 for being too liberal.
Tucson native Fred DuVal lost a bid for Governor in 2014 and has been asked by insiders to pursue reclamation of Gabby Giffords’s former House seat in 2016 for the Democrats, according to the Republic. DuVal has reportedly declined the push, saying if he does run for office, it will be statewide. He stopped short of commenting on whether he would consider a run for McCain’s Senate seat as a Democrat challenger.
A potential Supreme Court decision that would require Arizona to redraw Congressional lines will likely factor in to the political jockeying, the Republic reported.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana.
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