Sen. Jeff Flake Announces He 's Leaving Senate
Jeff Flake
Sen. Jeff Flake  an Arizona Republican  announced Tuesday  he  would not run for re-election in 2018  condemning in a speech aimed at President Donald Trump the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency"  Flake  says is undermining American democracy.
After bucking Trump in a state the president won   Flake  is bottoming out in polls. Republicans may be left with a hard-core conservative challenger that might win the primary but lose in the general election.
 Flake  was facing a challenge from former state Sen. Kelli Ward  who failed in  her  effort to take out Sen. John McCain last year but has gained some traction this year. Last week  former Trump strategist Steve Bannon attended a fundraiser for  her .
But mainstream Republicans in Arizona believe Ward cannot beat Rep. Krysten Sinema  who is running in  her  primary as the only well-known Democratic candidate. They've been searching for another candidate to take on Flake  and his decision to step aside opens the door wide for those efforts.
"I've known  Jeff  for a long time and I admire  him  for  his  service that  he  has given to our state " she said Friday. "But I believe it is an opportunity for me to support a different candidate  someone that I've known for a long while  and somebody that I believe will serve Arizona the best."
[TGT]announced Tuesday  [TGT]  would not run for re-election in 2018  condemning in a speech aimed at President Donald Trump the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency[TGT]says is undermining American democracy.
After bucking Trump in a state the president won   [TGT]is bottoming out in polls. Republicans may be left with a hard-core conservative challenger that might win the primary but lose in the general election.
 [TGT]was facing a challenge from former state Sen. Kelli Ward  who failed in  [TGT]  effort to take out Sen. John McCain last year but has gained some traction this year. Last week  former Trump strategist Steve Bannon attended a fundraiser for  her .
But mainstream Republicans in Arizona believe Ward cannot beat Rep. Krysten Sinema  who is running in  her  primary as the only well-known Democratic candidate. They've been searching for another candidate to take on [TGT]and [TGT] decision to step aside opens the door wide for those efforts.
"I've known  Jeff  for a long time and I admire  him  for  his  service that  he  has given to our state " she said Friday. "But I believe it is an opportunity for me to support a different candidate  someone that I've known for a long while  and somebody that I believe will serve Arizona the best."