Openly Gay State Rep Heinz Will Run For Gabie Giffords Seat

 

The first Democrat has officially entered the race to fill the recently vacated seat of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords—and he’s playing for our team! More details on Rep. Matt Heinz and his announcement after the jump.

Arizona state Rep. Matt Heinz formally announced his candidacy, telling the media: “Moving forward I believe the best thing that we can do is to honor her strength, and conviction, and her leadership, by getting somebody, quickly, because we don’t have much time, into that seat who is going to carry forward in the tradition of moderate, bipartisan, common sense governance that she did so well for Southern Arizona.”

Joe.My.God reports that, if elected, Heinz would become the fifth openly gay member of the U.S. House. 

Heinz plans to run for a full term in the fall in the new Congressional District 2. But he says he would drop the spring special election race if Giffords’ district director, Ron Barber, decides to run to finish the current term.

The special primary election will be April 17 and the general election June 12.

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