Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema to run for re-election in 2018, won’t challenge Flake
May 3, 2017, 8:01 PM | Updated: 8:40 pm
PHOENIX — Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema confirmed that she will run for re-election in the 2018 primary, bringing an end to any speculation that she would challenge Sen. Jeff Flake.
Sinema joked an injury has her “walking for re-election,” but confirmed that starting at the end of June, she will be “running for re-election.”
“I’m very happy,” Sinema told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Darin Damme on Wednesday. “I’m very proud to do it.”
For a time, Sinema was viewed as a potential Democratic challenger for Flake’s Senate seat.
But she has come under fire recently after it was revealed her campaign accepted $10,600 from the founders of Backpage.com, a classified website that advertised prostitution with underage girls, in 2013 and 2016.
Sinema has since donated more than $53,000 — donations from the Backpage.com owners, employees and their family members — to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, but some voters are still skeptical.
According to the latest Federal Election Commission records, Sinema raised nearly $584,000 in the first quarter and had $2.8 million in cash.
Sinema’s district includes Tempe, Ahwatukee and parts of Phoenix and Scottsdale. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2012.
