By Jessica Suerth | Cronkite News
Republican congressional hopefuls in Arizona’s 1st District have raised more than $3.3 million ahead of Tuesday’s primary, already surpassing the $2.4 million that GOP candidates in the district raised for all of 2014.
Analysts attribute the relatively high funding to the large number of Republicans – seven candidates at one point – scrambling to recoup a seat in a competitive district that is being vacated by the Democratic incumbent.
The heavy spending can be seen in the state’s only other vacant House seat this fall, the 5th District where five Republicans have raised approximately $2.8 million for the primary in hopes of succeeding Rep. Matt Salmon, who is retiring.
Related: McCain, Ward spending on Senate primary rivaled by outside groups
