According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s campaign finance website, State Representative John Fillmore has filed to run for the State Senate in the new Legislative District 7. That is the same district where both State Senators Kelly Townsend and Wendy Rogers live. With Townsend running for Congress, only Fillmore and Rogers are left to compete for the Senate seat.
Fillmore served one term early in the last decade and returned to the Legislature with a win in 2018. He only has four more years before he reaches his term limits, so his decision to run is considered his smartest play to avoid being forced from office in four years.
“That new district is mostly Fillmore’s and barely Rogers’ district, so if he’s going to beat her it will be in 2022, not 2026 after she is well established.” said one Capitol observer.
Still, the race will be a tough one. In addition to having President Donald Trump’s endorsement, Rogers raised an Arizona record $2.5M in the recent off-year, and starts the election year with around $1.5M cash on hand. Combined with her reputation for being willing to say anything about her opponents, such a war chest likely makes her the favorite in the contest.