By Ronald J. Hansen | The Republic
Congresswoman Martha McSally is planning to enter Arizona’s 2018 Senate race, giving Republican Kelli Ward new competition in the GOP primary.
The lawmaker has told her Republican colleagues in Arizona’s delegation that she intends to enter the Senate race, but didn’t indicate when she would formally announce her bid, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations.
Her decision will further shake up the state’s political landscape. Sen. Jeff Flake announced two weeks ago he was abandoning his re-election bid amid sinking polling and high-profile clashes with President Donald Trump.
Related: Sen. Jeff Flake speaks out against Donald Trump in latest op-ed
McSally would be the first high-profile name to join the Senate race since Flake’s retirement announcement. Jay Heiler, a longtime lobbyist and member of the state’s Board of Regents, has formed an exploratory committee. Others, including former members of Congress Matt Salmon and John Shadegg, have weighed a Senate bid, but have taken a pass, at least for now.
