By Rachel Leingang | Arizona Capitol Times
The 2018 election is more than 18 months away, but candidates for statewide seats are starting campaigns earlier than usual.
Political scientists and consultants attribute the early start to President Trump’s election, the nature of the American election cycle, and backlash to the actions of incumbents.
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Some early campaign announcements signal to other potential candidates that they may want to look elsewhere if they choose to run. Others seek to capitalize on a particular narrative to immediately draw a comparison between them and the incumbent.
And nearly all campaigns need to start looking for money earlier and earlier, as the cost of winning campaigns continues to skyrocket.
