She is the only candidate in the race who has not resided in the area, but the Democratic Party has all but anointed former failed senatorial candidate Ann Kirkpatrick for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District spot. The establishment candidate, who left her Congressional District 1 seat, to run unsuccessfully against Sen. John McCain, is raking in cash for her second shot at the House.
During her Senate run, Kirkpatrick listed her residence as McNary, Arizona.
Dr. Matt Heinz, Billy Kovacs, Mary Matiella and former Arizona State Rep. Bruce Wheeler are also running for the Democratic Party nomination in Congressional District (CD2).
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As the Yellow Sheet noted: “Though several candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination in CD2, DCCC, which generally stays neutral in in primaries, made clear today that it has already penciled in Ann Kirkpatrick as the winner. In a news release today responding to McSally’s US Senate candidacy, DCCC spokeswoman Rachel Irwin said, “McSally’s vacancy only enhances our chances of taking back this seat and electing a proven leader like former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who’s been a champion for Arizona families in Congress and as a prosecutor.”
Wheeler is considered the favorite for progressives.
The progressives witnessed first hand last year the chances of prevailing against the Democratic Party’s establishment pick. The progressives’ candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, faced what many believed were rigged primaries and other under-handed tactics in an effort to ensure that Hillary Clinton would be the Party’s nominee.
In November, Kirkpatrick raised eyebrows and doubts when she claimed in a Facebook post that Apache was her “first language.” The claim shocked close associates, who know that her native tongue is English. Kirkpatrick’s father, an English speaker, operated a trading post on the Apache reservation and spoke Apache. Kirkpatrick was stretching the meaning of “first language” in her attack on President Donald Trump for his Pocahontas quip during a ceremony with Navajo Code Talkers.