Former Arizona National Guard leader McGuire announces run for US Senate
Jun 8, 2021, 7:51 AM | Updated: 10:09 pm
(US Army Photo)
(US Army Photo)
PHOENIX – Retired Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire officially entered the race for Arizona U.S. Senate in 2022 on Tuesday.
The Republican McGuire made the announcement in a video released in the morning but had filed his statement of interest on Monday.
“I’m ready to roll … ready to win this thing,” McGuire told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.
More than a dozen Republicans have filed statements of interest with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Kelly, with McGuire and energy entrepreneur Jim Lamon the highest profile candidates so far.
Kelly, who won the seat in November in a special election to finish John McCain’s term, must run again for a full term.
“Mick McGuire is immediately a serious top-tier candidate and is going to have a lot of national attention because his resume is so strong,” Valley political analyst Stan Barnes told KTAR News after the announcement.
McGuire led the Arizona National Guard from 2013 until his retirement in April. He also headed up the Arizona Department of Emergency Management as adjutant general. His military career lasted nearly 34 years.
He had planned to step down in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic hit and he put the idea on hold. McGuire then became a familiar face at state COVID-19 press briefings.
The Guard helped bolster supply chains and keep shelves stocked at grocery stores and foodbanks, distributed medical supplies to remote areas of the state and helped with vaccine distribution.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jeremy Foster contributed to this report.
