Leach to run for Steve Smith’s seat
By Ben Giles | Arizona Capitol Times
Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, is running for Congress in a district Democrats have won in three consecutive elections.
Smith announced today he’ll run for office in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, a seat held by U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran, a former Republican turned Independent turned Democrat. Former U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who left Congress in 2016 to unsuccessfully challenge U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., held the seat for six of the previous eight years.
A state legislator since 2011, Smith has served Legislative District 11 in both the Arizona House of Representatives and state Senate. He announced he will serve the remainder of his term at the Legislature, meaning he’ll stay in office in 2018.