2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election


A special election for Arizona's 8th congressional district was held in 2018 subsequent to the resignation of U.S. Representative Trent Franks. Governor Doug Ducey called a special primary election for Tuesday, February 27, 2018, and a special general election for Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

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. 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 will be January 10 and the end of the current term for members of the Arizona Legislature is January 14, 2019, meaning current state lawmakers will not be able to run in the special election and for re-election unless they resign from the legislature. 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.

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

Debates


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Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Green primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Richard Grayson, candidate in Green Party presidential primary in Arizona in 2012
  • Gary Swing, 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
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, former State Senator
  • Hiral Tipirneni, emergency department physician

    Debates

Predictions

Endorsements

Polling

Results

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