Rick Renzi

Former state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick declared victory in her bid for the 1st Congressional District seat Tuesday night, as returns showed her with a substantial lead over Republican opponent Sydney Hay.

"In true Arizona spirit, we've come together regardless of party with a commitment to changing the way that Washington works," Kirkpatrick said in her victory speech, according to her campaign. "As your Representative, I will be your independent voice in the halls of Congress and I will fight for working families."

With 80 percent of the vote counted, Kirkpatrick was leading Hay by 54 to 42 percent, with under 4 percent for independent candidate Brent Maupin.

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The eight members of the Arizona delegation to the U.S. House - split evenly between Democrats and Republicans - spoke with one voice Monday in opposing the bailout bill before Congress, which was defeated on a vote of 205-228.

Unity is a rare occurence when it comes to the votes of House members from Arizona, but on Monday, the fiscally conservative streak that runs throughout the whole of Arizona politics was evident, as all eight members voted down the bill.

The race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Flagstaff) is tilting away from the Republican Party, according to The Cook Political Report.

The non-partisan Washington tip sheet Thursday moved the 1st Congressional District race into its "Lean Democratic" category from "Toss Up."

A little less than a month before the primaries, Cook foresees a general election showdown between Democratic state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and Republican Sydney Hay.

PRESCOTT -- Wednesday night, residents of the 1st Congressional District gathered to hear Republican candidate Dr. Sandra Livingstone inside her campaign headquarters, which occupy the corner of an office building that overlooks Courthouse Square.

Livingstone, who is challenging Republican Party-backed Syndey Hay and other candidates in the primary, filed her candidacy just before the June 4 deadline, and flew under the radar until her Federal Election Commission report came out, showing she had near-parity with Hay in cash on hand. Her June fundraising came in at $4,725 - well behind Hay's quarterly take of about $95,000 - but she has put up $200,000 of her own money, meaning she is very much in the race from a money perspective.

Around 20 people, mainly senior citizens, showed up for the Livingstone town hall, where they heard her discuss Second Amendment rights, energy policy and her recommendations for bringing the nation's finances under control.

Ann Kirkpatrick has picked up another endorsement in her AZ-1 Democratic Primary campaign to succeed Rick Renzi.  Kirkpatrick’s campaign is confirming they have received the endorsement of Congressman Harry Mitchell to go along with Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords and Governor Janet Napolitano.  Kirkpatrick faces Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker in the September primary.  Shanker has received the endorsement of Congressman Raul Grijalva.    

This week, if you are a politicial from AZ-1 and your name is not Kirkpatrick, there is a good chance you made the losers list. Find out who makes the cut in this weeks Winners & Losers.

Federal Election Commission records are at odds with a claim by 1st Congressional District candidate Sydney Hay that she raised $100,000 at a single fundraising event in early April.

In an email to supporters sent April 3, the Hay campaign said:

"At a fundraiser held last evening hosted by longtime friends Karen and Bob Hobbs at their historic home, the restored home of Barry Goldwater, attended by Barry Goldwater, Jr., we were overwhelmed by the great response that resulted in $100,000 raised! Thank you to all who helped make the event a huge success."

A PolitickerAZ.com investigation has revealed that it is highly unlikely Hay's claim of $100,000 raised through the event is accurate.

The committee of U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Flagstaff) is $455,090 in debt, according to what may be his final Federal Election Commission report. Renzi, who is under a 35 count federal indictment on charges ranging from extortion to money laundering, is not running for re-election in the 1st Congressional District.

While the option to personally underwrite the debt is open to Renzi, the legal fees involved with his defense will surely put a crimp in his efforts to pay off the nearly $500,000 he has reported in outstanding obligations left over from his last run in 2006.

Democratic congressional candidate Josh Zeitz today questioned why his opponent, Rep. Chris Smith, donated $2,000 to outgoing Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) less than a month after Renzi’s insurance business was raided by the FBI.

In February, Renzi pleaded not guilty to a 35 count indictment charging him with using his position to influence land deals. Reports of an investigation of Renzi surfaced in late 2006, and the case took on further controversy after its initiator, former Arizona U.S. Attorney Paul K. Charlton, was forced out of his position by former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.