KTAR.com
Add former Arizona Rep. Phil Lovas to the list of candidates hoping to replace U.S. Rep. Trent Franks in a special election next year.
Lovas, who resigned his post in the Trump administration earlier this week, made his announcement Wednesday on social media.
He joined former state Congressman Bob Stump and state Sen. Steve Montenegro as formal contenders for the seat vacated by Franks, who stepped down last week after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced.
On the Dem side, at least two candidates are running in the overwhelmingly Republican CD8. Hiral Tipirneni, an emergency room physician, and Brianna Westbrook, a transgender woman working in the automotive industry, both entered the CD8 race while Franks was still in office and presumed to be running for reelection. Both are now running in the special election to replace Franks. Westbrook said she thinks Franks’ sudden departure only stands to pump up Democrats in the district and get them to turn out, and she rejected the idea that Republicans have an advantage in the race
On the Democrat side, at least two candidates are running in the overwhelmingly Republican CD8. Hiral Tipirneni, an emergency room physician, and Brianna Westbrook, a transgender woman working in the automotive industry, both entered the CD8 race while Franks was still in office and presumed to be running for re-election. Both are now running in the special election to replace Franks. From the Yellow Sheet Report
