# 2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
Elections in Arizona :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1912
1914
1916
1920
1922
1926
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1950
1952
1956
1958
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1994
1998
2000
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2020 sp
2022
2024
2028
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1911
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1933
AL sp
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1961
2nd sp
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1991
2nd sp
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
8th
2008
2010
2012
8th sp
2014
2016
2018
8th sp
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
State elections
2006
2010
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1911
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
Secretary of State elections
2014
2018
2022
2026
Attorney General elections
2018
2022
2026
Treasurer elections
2022
Superintendent elections
2018
2022
Senate elections
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
List of Arizona ballot propositions
2000
203
2004
200
2006
107
204
207
2008
102
2010
100
203
2020
207
2024
139 :
Phoenix
Mayoral elections
2011
2015
2018–19 (sp)
2020
2024 :
Tucson
Mayoral elections
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Other localities
Gilbert
2012
Glendale
2012
2016
Maricopa County
2024
Mesa
2008
2012
2020
2024
Scottsdale
2008
2012 :
vte :
A special election for Arizona's 8th congressional district was held in 2018 subsequent to the resignation of Republican U.S. Representative Trent Franks. Governor Doug Ducey called a special primary election for Tuesday, February 27, 2018, and a special general election for the balance of Franks' eighth term for Tuesday, April 24, 2018.
Republican nominee and former Arizona Senate president pro tem Debbie Lesko won a closer-than-expected race against Democratic challenger Hiral Tipirneni.

## Background

Incumbent representative Trent Franks announced on December 7, 2017, that he would resign effective January 31, 2018, after admitting allegations regarding the issue of surrogacy. However, after his wife was hospitalized, Franks resigned effective December 8, 2017.
Candidates must file nomination forms and petitions within 30 days of the governor's proclamation. Candidates in special congressional elections in Arizona must collect a number of valid signatures equal to at least one-fourth of 1% of the number of qualified signers in the district. For the 2018 special election, a Democratic candidate requires 665 signatures, a Green candidate requires 392 signatures, a Libertarian candidate requires 401 signatures, a Republican candidate requires 860 signatures, and an independent candidate requires 4,680 signatures.
It was initially thought that Arizona's resign-to-run law would have required sitting members of the Arizona Legislature to resign their seats in order to run in the special election. Arizona's resign-to-run law does not require someone to resign if they file to run when they are in the final year of their term. However, the deadline to submit nominating petitions was January 10 and the end of the current term for members of the Arizona Legislature was January 14, 2019. However, legal advice from the legislature's nonpartisan counsel stated that incumbent state legislators would not be required to resign in order to run in the special election.

## Republican primary

Two of the major candidates in the Republican primary drew controversy late in the campaign. Former state senator Steve Montenegro faced calls to withdraw, including by former governor Jan Brewer, after news articles revealing sexually suggestive text messages between Montenegro and a legislative staffer surfaced. Additionally, complaints were filed against former state senator Debbie Lesko over her campaign finance records.

### Candidates
#### Declared

* Chad Allen, health care executive
* Brenden Dilley, author, entrepreneur and host of Your Voice America
* Stephen Dolgos, independent candidate for Arizona's 8th congressional district in 2012 and 2014
* Debbie Lesko, former state senator
* Phil Lovas, former state representative, Arizona State Chairman of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, and Regional Advocate for the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy
* David Lien, teacher and former Willmar, Minnesota council member
* Richard Mack, teacher and former Graham County Sheriff
* Steve Montenegro, former state senator
* Bob Stump, former Arizona Corporation Commissioner
* Christopher Sylvester, Navy veteran
* Clair Van Steenwyk, radio host and candidate for the seat in 2016
* Mark Yates

#### Withdrew

* Kevin Cavanaugh, former deputy sheriff

#### Declined

* Clint Hickman, Maricopa County Supervisor
* Kimberly Yee, state senator and candidate for State Treasurer in 2018

### Endorsements

Individuals
* Joe Arpaio, former Maricopa County Sheriff
* Bob Corbin, former Arizona Attorney General
* Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator (R-TX)
* Trent Franks, former Congressman (R-AZ)
* Steve King, Congressman (R-IA)
* Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator (R-PA)

### Debates

* Dan Nowicki (January 25, 2018). "GOP Congress hopefuls try to outdo each other on border security, loyalty to Trump". The Arizona Republic. Includes video of debate, January 24, 2018.

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Debbie Lesko | Phil Lovas | Richard Mack | Steve Montenegro | Bob Stump | Clair Van Steenwyck | Undecided |
| ABC 15/OH Predictive Insights (R) | January 29, 2018 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 21% | 12% | 1% | 21% | 10% | 5% | 24% |
| Remington Research (R-Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC) | January 20–21, 2018 | 787 | ± 3.5% | 22% | – | – | 24% | 11% | – | – |
with Clint Hickman and Kimberly Yee
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Travis Angry | Clint Hickman | Debbie Lesko | Phil Lovas | Richard Mack | Steve Montenegro | Tony Rivero | Bob Stump | Christopher Sylvester | Kimberly Yee | Undecided |
| ABC 15/OH Predictive Insights (R) | December 11, 2017 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 1% | 15% | 16% | 2% | – | 1% | 1% | 18% | 2% | 7% | 37% |
| Data Orbital (R) | December 9–11, 2017 | 400 | ± 4.9% | – | 9% | 15% | 2% | 3% | 4% | – | 10% | – | 7% | 51% |

### Results

Republican special primary results, Arizona 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debbie Lesko | 27,047 | 35.37% |
| | Republican | Phil Lovas | 18,652 | 24.39% |
| | Republican | Steve Montenegro | 18,106 | 23.68% |
| | Republican | Bob Stump | 4,032 | 5.27% |
| | Republican | Clair Van Steenwyk | 1,787 | 2.34% |
| | Republican | Christopher Sylvester | 1,490 | 1.95% |
| | Republican | David Lien | 1,341 | 1.75% |
| | Republican | Richard Mack | 1,191 | 1.56% |
| | Republican | Mark Yates | 871 | 1.14% |
| | Republican | Chad Allen | 824 | 1.08% |
| | Republican | Brenden Dilley | 823 | 1.08% |
| | Republican | Stephen Dolgos | 377 | 0.49% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 8 | 0.01% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,459 | 100% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Hiral Tipirneni, emergency department physician
* Brianna Westbrook, political activist and LGBTQ community leader

#### Declined

* Robert Olsen
* Robert Schuster, Arizona State University student

### Results

Democratic special primary results, Arizona 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Hiral Tipirneni | 23,175 | 60.22% |
| | Democratic | Brianna Westbrook | 15,288 | 39.72% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 22 | 0.06% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,485 | 100% |

## Green primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Richard Grayson (write-in), candidate in Green Party presidential primary in Arizona in 2012
* Gary Swing (write-in), Green Party candidate for U.S. Senator in Arizona in 2016
Each candidate received 13 write-in votes in the primary. Neither was placed on the special election ballot.

## Libertarian primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Kelly Noble (write-in)
The candidate received 22 write-in votes in the primary and was not placed on the special election ballot.

## General election

Republican candidate Debbie Lesko received over $1 million in funding from Republican groups outside the state.

### Candidates

* Debbie Lesko (Republican), former state senator
* Hiral Tipirneni (Democratic), emergency department physician

### Debates

| Host network | Date | Link(s) | Participants | Participants | Participants |
| Host network | Date | Link(s) | Hiral Tipirneni (D) | Debbie Lesko (R) |
| KAET | March 26, 2018 | | Invited | Invited |

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | March 2, 2018 |
| Inside Elections/Rothenberg Political Report | Likely R | February 28, 2018 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely R | March 14, 2018 |

### Endorsements

Federal politicians
* Andy Biggs, U.S. Representative (R-AZ)
* Paul Gosar, U.S. Representative (R-AZ)
* Jon Kyl, former U.S. Senator (R-AZ)
* Jim Jordan, U.S. Representative (R-OH)
* Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader and U.S. Representative (R-CA)
* Martha McSally, U.S. Representative (R-AZ) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018
* Mark Meadows, U.S. Representative (R-NC), and Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus
* David Schweikert, U.S. Representative (R-AZ)
* Donald Trump, President of the United States
Local and state politicians
* Jan Brewer, former Governor of Arizona
* Mark Brnovich, Attorney General of Arizona
* Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona
Organizations
* Maggie's List
* Susan B. Anthony List
* Winning For Women
Federal politicians
* Ami Bera, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
* Judy Chu, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
* Ruben Gallego, U.S. Representative (D-AZ)
* Gabrielle Giffords, former U.S. Representative (D-AZ)
* Raul Grijalva, U.S. Representative (D-AZ)
* Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative (D-WA)
* Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator (D-VA)
* Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative (D-CA)
* Ann Kirkpatrick, former U.S. Representative (D-AZ) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2016
* Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative (D-IL)
* Conor Lamb, U.S. Representative (D-PA)
* Grace Meng, U.S. Representative (D-NY)
* Tom O'Halleran, U.S. Representative (D-AZ)
* Ed Pastor, former U.S. Representative (D-AZ)
* Donald Payne Jr., U.S. Representative (D-NJ)
* Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. Representative (D-AZ) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018
Local and state politicians
* Steve Gallardo, Member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
Labor unions
* United Food and Commercial Workers Local 900
Organizations
* AAPI Victory Fund
* Americans for Responsible Solutions/GiffordsPAC
* Clinicians for Progressive Care
* End Citizens United
* EMILY's List
* Giffords PAC/Americans for Responsible Solutions
* The Indivisible Project
* League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
* MoveOn.org
* NARAL Pro-Choice America
* Stonewall Democrats of Arizona

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Debbie Lesko (R) | Hiral Tipirneni (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Emerson College | April 19–22, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.2% | 49% | 43% | – | 8% |
| Lake Research Partners (D-Tipirneni) | April 14–16, 2018 | 408 | ± 4.9% | 44% | 44% | – | 11% |
| Emerson College | April 12–15, 2018 | 400 | ± 5.2% | 45% | 46% | 4% | 5% |
| OH Predictive Insights | April 11, 2018 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 53% | 43% | – | 4% |
| Lake Research Partners (D-Tipirneni) | March 3–6, 2018 | 400 | – | 48% | 34% | – | 18% |

### Results

Arizona's 8th congressional district special election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Debbie Lesko | 96,012 | 52.37% | −16.18% |
| | Democratic | Hiral Tipirneni | 87,331 | 47.63% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 183,343 | 100% | N/A |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |