Most people know that 2008 is quite a busy year in Arizona congressional politics, but today the Arizona Capitol Times shed light on just how busy it is. The state boasts four competitive House races - half of its districts - the outcomes of which will help shape Congress for the next two years, but the less-scrutinized races have a wealth of candidates as well.

While the focus may be on contests like the CD1 fight over Rep. Rick Renzi's seat, the CD5 Republican primary and the premier battle between Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and state Sen. Tim Bee in the 8th, voters in all of Arizona's districts will have a choice in November. With the spotlight firmly fixed on the top four, the others have been in the shadows as far as the media is concerned.

Today is different. The Arizona Capitol Times has released a list of all candidates who have filed as congressional competitors for 2008. The litany of incumbents and hopefuls is presented without preference, pretense or puffery, and, at least in this format, all candidates are created equal.

Here is the list, per the Arizona Capitol Times:

OFFICE     PARTY     FIRST NAME     LAST NAME     DATE FILED     SIGNATURES     SIGNATURES REQ'D

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Democratic         JEFFREY                        BROWN                                    6/4/2008                 820    747

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Democratic         ANN                                KIRKPATRICK                        5/23/2008                2314   747

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Democratic         HOWARD                       SHANKER                               5/30/2008                3282   747

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Democratic         MARY KIM                      TITLA                                        6/2/2008                3837   747

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Republican         BARRY                            HALL                                         6/4/2008                 672    627

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Republican         TOM                                HANSEN                                   6/2/2008                 909    627

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Republican         SYDNEY                         HAY                                           5/5/2008                2495   627

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Republican         PRESTON                      KORN                                     5/27/2008                1056   627

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 1   Republican         SANDRA L. B.                 LIVINGSTONE                         6/4/2008                1398   627

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 2   Democratic         JOHN                              THRASHER                            5/27/2008                 837    608

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 2   Green                 WILLIAM                         CRUM                                       6/4/2008                 147    137

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 2   Libertarian          POWELL                         GAMMILL                                  6/4/2008                  12       11

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 2   Republican         TRENT                            FRANKS                                 5/29/2008                4129   916

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 3   Democratic         BOB                                LORD                                        6/3/2008                1027   467

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 3   Libertarian          MICHAEL                        SHOEN                                   5/27/2008                  56       11

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 3   Republican         JOHN                              SHADEGG                                6/3/2008                4079   708

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 4   Democratic         ED                                   PASTOR                                 5/29/2008                3582   432

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 4   Green                 REBECCA                       DEWITT                                    6/4/2008                  79       60

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 4   Libertarian          JOE                                 COBB                                        6/4/2008                  11         8

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 4   Republican         DON                                KARG                                        6/2/2008                 346    190

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Democratic         HARRY                           MITCHELL                                6/3/2008                1486   463

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Libertarian          WARREN                        SEVERIN                                  6/2/2008                  30       11

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Republican         MARK                              ANDERSON                           5/30/2008                1647   683

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Republican         SUSAN                            BITTER SMITH                         6/4/2008                1349   683

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Republican         LEE                                 GENTRY                                   6/4/2008                1352   683

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Republican         LAURA                            KNAPEREK                               6/3/2008                1795   683

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Republican         JIM                                  OGSBURY                                5/5/2008                3390   683

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 5   Republican         DAVID                             SCHWEIKERT                          6/4/2008                2078   683

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 6   Democratic         CHRIS                             GRAMAZIO                            5/21/2008                 685    494

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 6   Democratic         REBECCA                       SCHNEIDER                             6/3/2008                 863    494

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 6   Libertarian          RICK                               BIONDI                                     6/4/2008                  13       11

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 6   Republican         SCOTT                           BERGREN                                6/4/2008                1029   922

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 6   Republican         JEFF                               FLAKE                                     5/12/2008                2860   922

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 7   Democratic         RAÚL                              GRIJALVA                                6/4/2008                5163   672

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 7   Republican         GENE                              CHEWNING                           5/27/2008                 872    361

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 7   Republican         JOSEPH                         SWEENEY                                6/4/2008                 520    361

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 8   Democratic         GABRIELLE                    GIFFORDS                             5/23/2008               11742  701

U.S. Representative in Congress - District No. 8   Republican         TIM                                  BEE                                           6/2/2008                6750   780