In Arizona CD1, Voters Look Past Candidates' Flaws To District Issues
National parties are watching Arizona’s first congressional race between Tom O’Halleran and Paul Babeu closely. The open seat is up for grabs. And both Democrats and Republicans have won in this rural district.
The sprawling district stretches from the Utah-Arizona border to just north of Tucson. And it’s incredibly diverse. The district is made up of seniors, veterans, suburbanites, ranchers, Indian nations, mining communities and a college town.
Carlos Rios is a junior at Northern Arizona University studying political science.
“I plan on voting for Tom O’Halleran on several principles,” Rios said. “I do feel he’s going to follow in Ann Kirkpatrick’s footsteps and propose more liberal leaning policies.”
O’Halleran was a Republican, then switched to the Independent Party. And just before announcing his run for CD1, he became a Democrat. O’Halleran said he sees it as a strength because he can work with anybody.
While at the state legislature O’Halleran led a bipartisan group to pass all-day kindergarten. He also worked to fund Child Protective Services and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid system.
His Republican opponent Paul Babeu wants to deregulate the Environmental Protection Agency. As a National Guard commander on the border and sheriff of Pinal County, he cracked down on illegal immigration and drug-cartel operations.
Merle Henderson, a veteran and a senior, heads up the Flagstaff Tea Party group and plans to vote for Babeu.
“Paul Babeu has expressed himself as one that would work with Donald Trump in closing down the borders and putting up a wall,” Henderson said.
Babeu was director of a school in Massachusetts shut down for child abuse among other things.
Both voters agree their candidates are flawed but they’re focusing more on the issues important to them than the person representing them.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been modified to reflect O'Halleran worked to fund the state's Medicaid system.
