Howard Shanker

A number of Arizonans and national leaders are urging President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team to name U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) as secretary of the Department of Interior.

Natalie Luna, Grijalva's communications director, told PolitickerAZ.com that a number of environmental groups and other activists within the district have been contacting the transition team to push for Grijalva's nomination.

Also, former 1st Congressional District Democratic primary candidate Howard Shanker, an attorney who has worked extensively on environmental litigation, put out an editorial Monday in which he called Grijalva, "a visionary when it comes to responsible stewardship and multiple use of public lands."

AZ-5 Laura Knaperek was the first congressional candidate to reach out in a sign of unity today.  Knaperek issued a statement congratulating David Schweikert for winning and offered to help him defeat Democratic Congressman Harry Mitchell.

AZ-1 Democrats are also getting on the unity train.  The three losing candidates Mary Kim Titla, Howard Shanker and Jeffrey Brown will be attending a press conference tomorrow in Flagstaff to show their support for Ann Kirkpatrick.  

Former state representative Ann Kirkpatrick is the winner in the 1st Congressional District Democratic primary.

With around 70 percent of votes counted, Kirkpatrick has 49.8 percent of the vote, making it statistically impossible for any of her rivals to catch up.

Kirkpatrick has been the favorite in the race from the start, earning a spot in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program - a rare feat for a primary candidate. Kirkpatrick also gained the backing of the Arizona Democratic Party and a host of Democratic elected officials.

Former television personality Mary Kim Titla put up a strong showing - she now has over 31 percent of the vote. Attorney Howard Shanker's share stands at more than 13 percent, while dark horse Jeffrey Brown has gained around 6 percent.

In the home stretch Shanker Supporters Rally in Support.

Both Republican Sydney Hay and Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick face primary challenges on Sept. 2, but it's hard to tell from the ads the two have been putting out. Rather than focus on bumping off the intra-party competition (Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker on the Democratic side, Sandra Livingstone on the Republican), the would-be rivals for the 1st Congressional District seat have been taking swipes at each other in two new ads.

Hay's attack lambastes Kirkpatrick's "opposition to drilling for American oil," and accuses Kirkpatrick of "voting for every tax increase" and casting "multiple votes against gun rights" during her time in the Arizona House of Representatives. The ad also cites the Goldwater Institute's "F" rating of Kirkpatrick's voting record to label her "one of Arizona's 'most liberal' legislators."

The Kirkpatrick campaign was quick to respond. Wednesday it unveiled a new television ad to "set the record straight."

Howard Shanker Opens Campaign Office in Prescott Valley

The AZ-1 Democratic primary is turning out to be a contest of Ann Kirkpatrick, her war chest, DCCC support and establishment endorsements from the likes of Gov. Janet Napolitano, Congressman Harry Mitchell and Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords vs. Howard Shanker and his Indian reservation support.

Ann Kirkpatrick has picked up another endorsement in her AZ-1 Democratic Primary campaign to succeed Rick Renzi.  Kirkpatrick’s campaign is confirming they have received the endorsement of Congressman Harry Mitchell to go along with Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords and Governor Janet Napolitano.  Kirkpatrick faces Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker in the September primary.  Shanker has received the endorsement of Congressman Raul Grijalva.    

This week, if you are a politicial from AZ-1 and your name is not Kirkpatrick, there is a good chance you made the losers list. Find out who makes the cut in this weeks Winners & Losers.