Arizona Sen. Bob Worsley ends bid for re-election, cites ‘caustic’ politics
Jun 18, 2018, 10:06 AM | Updated: 1:24 pm
(Facebook Photo/Bob Worsley)
PHOENIX — Arizona state Sen. Bob Worsley, co-founder of SkyMall, announced Monday that he is calling off his re-election campaign.
Worsley cited the “increasingly caustic political climate” in the state and the country as a reason for his decision.
“Regrettably, I now feel I can better impact society through resuming my private endeavors than by continuing in elected office while the GOP takes a nap,” he wrote in guest column for the Arizona Republic.
Worsley turned in enough signatures get his name on the Republican ballot before the May 30 deadline.
That leaves political newcomer Tyler Pace unopposed in the Aug. 28 GOP primary for District 25, which is heavily Republican.
Pace will likely face Kathy Mohr-Almeida, the only candidate on the Democratic primary ballot, in the Nov. 6 general election.
Worsley, 62, is giving up the seat he’s held in the Mesa district since 2012. Because of term limits, it would have been his last re-election campaign had he continued.
He helped found SkyMall, which published an in-flight shopping catalog famous for its eclectic products.
Worsley also founded NZ Legacy and serves as CEO of the privately held energy development company.