AP, Phoenix :
Republican Debbie Lesko has won the special election in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, keeping the U.S. House seat in GOP control.
The former state senator on Tuesday defeated Hiral Tipirneni, a former emergency room physician. Tipernini had hoped to replicate surprising Democratic wins in Pennsylvania, Alabama and other states in a year where opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies have boosted the party’s chances in Republican strongholds.
Lesko replaces former Rep. Trent Franks, a Republican who resigned in December amid sexual misconduct allegations.
The district sprawls across western Phoenix suburbs, covering some of the most conservative areas of the red state, including the retirement community of Sun City.Voter turnout for Tuesday’s special election in Phoenix’s western suburbs appears higher than during the February primary.
Officials say the election going fairly smoothly, with only a few problems reported.
Maricopa County Recorder’s Office spokeswoman C. Murphy Hebert (ay’bear) says ballot printers needed repairs at two of the 8th Congressional District’s 55 polling locations, affecting 20 voters. Spokesmen for Republican Debbie Lesko and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni say they don’t know of any serious voting problems.
Republican Debbie Lesko has won the special election in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, keeping the U.S. House seat in GOP control.
The former state senator on Tuesday defeated Hiral Tipirneni, a former emergency room physician. Tipernini had hoped to replicate surprising Democratic wins in Pennsylvania, Alabama and other states in a year where opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies have boosted the party’s chances in Republican strongholds.
Lesko replaces former Rep. Trent Franks, a Republican who resigned in December amid sexual misconduct allegations.
The district sprawls across western Phoenix suburbs, covering some of the most conservative areas of the red state, including the retirement community of Sun City.Voter turnout for Tuesday’s special election in Phoenix’s western suburbs appears higher than during the February primary.
Officials say the election going fairly smoothly, with only a few problems reported.
Maricopa County Recorder’s Office spokeswoman C. Murphy Hebert (ay’bear) says ballot printers needed repairs at two of the 8th Congressional District’s 55 polling locations, affecting 20 voters. Spokesmen for Republican Debbie Lesko and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni say they don’t know of any serious voting problems.
