Who is running if Giffords steps down?
by Hugh Holub on Aug. 18, 2011, under politicsNews is that State Senator Frank Antenori is forming an exploratory committee to look at running for the CD 8 congressional seat if Gabrielle Giffords decides not to run again.
The news is that Antenori would not run directly against Giffords…but is getting ready in case she decides not the run again.
Giffords showing up and voting on the debt ceiling debate has had the interesting effect of lifting the moratorium on discussing her political future.
Local conventional wisdom is that Giffords would be unbeatable next year if she decides to run for re-election.
But the real question is personal.
After the trauma of the January 8th assassination attempt and the massive effort to recover, running for Congress just might not be the first thing on Gabby’s long term life agenda.
People coming out of near death experiences rarely decide to devote their new lives to politics.
After knocking on the Pearly Gates, going back to a GOP controlled Congress could seem like going straight to Hell.
Personally, I think Gabby could do a lot more for the country by transcending being a Congressperson and taking on a national role as a spokesperson for civility and integrity of public life.
The redrawing of CD 8s boundaries may also play into a decision for Gabby to retire as an American hero.
The farther east across Tucson her district is pushed, the more Republican it becomes.
Raul Grijalva looks to be losing voters from western Arizona and gaining more population in Tucson at Gabby’s expense.
Besides Antenori’s exploratory look at the race, there has been a lot of scuttlebutt around Green Valley that FICO’s duchess Nan Walden is hankering for a bigger political life.
At one point she was rumored to be thinking about running for the US Senate last year but wisely avoided political suicide at the state-wide level.
Walden has been busy cozying up with Pima County environmentalists and would be a very strong Democrat primary contender if Giffords steps down.
Since Nan and Gabby are reportedly close personal friends, Nan is probably going to keep her head way down and will only talk politics if Gabby announces she’s not going to seek re-election. But after telling her husband she isn’t going to run again, I’d bet the second communication Gabby would make would be a call to Nan.
The Waldens use David Steele as a political advisor who was one of the brain trust behind US Senator Dennis DeConcini. Steele can hatch a strong Congressional campaign in about 30 seconds if needed. Nan would also have strong support from outfits like Emily’s List. Plus she’s not a poverty case herself and can easily spend serious money out of her own pocket to run.
Last year’s GOP candidate Jesse Kelly is lurking in the weeds, as are always previous candidates who run and lose. The problem is if they run again, they lose again.
But a battle between Antenori and Kelly would be a newspaper reporter’s and bloggers’ dream because both are ex-mil and hard chargers.
Randy Graf down in Green Valley is another potential GOP contender for CD 8. Ironically, when he first ran for the Congressional seat he was viewed as kind of extreme. Interesting how times have changed…Graf is positively main stream now.
Graf would be a very good candidate to run against County Supervisor Ray Carroll…but Carroll has somehow managed to manuever Graf’s home into Supervisor Sharon Bronson’s County Supervisor district if the last proposed map is any indication.
There are other Republicans in CD 8 who could be very attractive should they throw their hats in the ring. David Stevens, a state senator from Sierra Vista, comes to mind.
August 18th, 2011 on 2:59 pm
Just to let one and all know, Jim Ward from Sierra Vista is extremely interested and has notified Pima and Cochise County republicans of this fact.
August 18th, 2011 on 4:45 pm
I will miss her if Gabby decides to retire and not run again but I would totally support her in that decision. The group out there “lurking” (appropriate words to describe Jesse Kelley, in my view) scares the hell out of me. I can’t think of a single person out there who can fill Gabby’s shoes.
August 18th, 2011 on 8:28 pm
Why waste print space on mere speculation? The situation and players can change drastically in the coming months. Articles like this are a waste of time. It’s too soon to tell what will happen, whether or not Gabby Giffords wants to return.
The comment “People coming out of near death experiences rarely decide to devote their new lives to politics.” is completely idiotic. Has there been some study about this? How does the author know what people want to do with their lives?
August 19th, 2011 on 9:52 am
I hope she continues to run! I look forward to seeing her name on the ballot!
August 19th, 2011 on 4:45 pm
I want Gabby to decide on her own, that should should retire. The shooting was a tragedy, but never appeared politically motivated. She may do well to stay home and get to know her newly retired, new husband. Don’t they have kids?
To be fair to all, please make that decision soon. The country is on the verge of collapse.
September 10th, 2011 on 7:12 am
Gabby Giffords had a failing voting record before the shooting. She doesn’t even live in Arizona. I would look for Antenori to run, if Giffords goes for the sympathy vote or not. Antenori is an American hero and he has already shown his valor and devosion to serving this country. Giffords is no hero, she is a vote for sympathy. This next election is not about Giffords or Antenori, this next election is about our country. If we choose to give Giffords a sympathy vote, we deserve what we get. With the oppurtunity to get a Representative in Congress that will stand up to special interest, we better take advantage of it and vote Antenori, or continue with the union bail outs, nation building, Obama Care and beg and borrow policies of this adminstration. Look at all the failures that Giffords has voted for. What a waste of money she has been.
September 10th, 2011 on 7:33 am
I don’t care if Frank Antenori wants to run for Congress or not. He is a warrior and a natural born leader of men. He will run, because he has a calling to do so. I can’t picture Frank Antenori enjoying the company of many in Congress, but I doubt he enjoyed the time he spent getting his butt shot off as a Green Beret, when serving this country. Going up against Goffords might seem like a huge battle for most, but Antenori has faced worste odds and stood up, when his life has been on the line. The media might not know it yet, Frank might not know it yet, but I know he will run. I feel the confidence in his presence, he can’t lay down and let this country spiral out of control. It is not part of Frank’s charactor to avoid a fight. I am sure Frank and his family would love to have someone else step up and do the job, but there is no one else and Frank’s wife already knows that Frank can’t deny his country when called upon. Being second to our nation is part of what being a wife to a man of honor is. Good luck to all those corporations who attempt to quiet Frank. Frank didn’t serve in the military, get his butt shot off and send his buddies home in body bags, for the military pay checks and I doubt he is going to give up a life he enjoys in Southern Arizona to be bought out by anyone now. Frank won’t be going to Congress alone. I am sure the ghost of the men, lost serving next to Frank, will be along side him.
September 10th, 2011 on 8:00 am
Look at Giffords bio and all the links that have been deleted to cover up her supporting bail outs of green energy plants, that have gone bank rupt, Obama Care, against the will of the people she was suppose to represent. Most of what Giffords previously bragged about supporting, has now become an embarrassement to the Democratic Party. Then look at Frank Antenori’s Bio, one that stands above any one in Congress. http://www.acmla.net/pdf/frank-antenori-bio.pdf Giffords won’t stand a chance, if voters do the right thing for this country and vote to fix the problems we face as a nation. Giffords will be running on more of the same old steal from the rich and buy votes from the public. The sympathy vote, resulting from a mad man, won’t rebuild this country. Time to send Giffords back home to Texas and get someone who legitimately has his home in Southern Arizona and a track record of fighting for this nation.
September 10th, 2011 on 8:15 am
Well said, Jesus.
September 10th, 2011 on 8:15 am
You people are sickening. Gabby is a nations hero. She voted our countrys health care and to strengthen America’s unions and to bail out our country. It is not her fault that unemployment is over 9%, that is George Bush’s fault. Antenori will vote to end programs that allow me to feed my children. Antenori will let the TEA party rule this country if he is elected. Gabby had feelings for all of us and we need her love in congress. She is a woman and we need a woman to represent our state. I am not familair with all the issues, but I like Gabby, she is nice.
September 10th, 2011 on 8:24 am
In a fight to get this country back as #1 in the world, and I do not apologize for being #1, I want someone with a proven track record, I want Frank Antenori. He might not be loaded with a wagon full of cash, most military people aren’t, but he does come with honor and integrity, something most in congress lack.
September 10th, 2011 on 6:02 pm
Are we so simple that we don’t ask “for what” is it…that we have yet to see Gabby demonstrate her competence with the simple expression of behaving as someone who holds office. If she is NOT capable…she should NOT hold this important post…
Have lost all sensibilities?
PS,….please spare me the “you mean person”