Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton announces run for Congress
Oct 5, 2017, 12:58 PM | Updated: Oct 6, 2017, 11:27 am
PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said Thursday that he will run for Congress in next year’s election.
“Arizonans deserve better than what we’re getting from Washington and there has never been a more consequential time in the fight to protect the middle class,”he said in a press release.
“In Congress, I’ll continue to do what we’ve done in Phoenix: Deliver real results that improve people’s lives.”
The mayor will run for the 9th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who announced in September a run of her own for Senate that will likely pit her against incumbent Republican Jeff Flake.
Stanton had filed the paperwork to explore a campaign to run for Arizona secretary of state, but never announced his candidacy.
Should Stanton win the election in 2018, he would have to resign his mayorship early. His term is due to expire in 2019.
The mayor has become an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump and his policies. He has been critical of the Department of Justice’s decision to challenge LGBT rights and Trump’s decision to leave the Paris climate accord.
He also been supportive of people enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and asked the federal government this week to extend the Thursday deadline to apply for renewal.
Stanton, a Phoenix native, took office in 2012. He served on the Phoenix City Council between 2000 and 2009.
At least one other person has announced a candidacy for Sinema’s seat. Seth Leibsohn, a Phoenix native who is currently the radio host for 960 The Patriot, announced his run last week.
Two other Democrats — lawyer Mark Robert Gordon and state Sen. Katie Hobbs — along with Republican state Sen. Steven Montenegro have said they will challenge Michele Reagan for the secretary of state job.
