Laura Knaperek

According to a state Republican insider familiar with the process, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek is one of the top contenders to take over the Arizona Secretary of State's office if current SoS Jan Brewer assumes the governorship.

"My understanding is that Laura is on the top of Jan Brewer's list," said the source, who spoke with PolitickerAZ.com on condition of anonymity.

Knaperek unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in the 5th Congressional District in the September primary, and chaired the Arizona House Appropriations Committee when she served as a representative from Legislative District 27. 

Along with Knaperek, several others have emerged as a possible replacement for Brewer if Gov. Janet Napolitano hands her the keys to the 9th Floor, though the current list is said to include upwards of 30 names.

If Jan Brewer becomes Governor, who be appointed as Secretary of State? Here are some early names to consider

Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell
Outgoing Senate President Tim Bee
Former State Rep. Laura Knaperek
Outgoing ACC Jeff Hatch-Miller
Deputy Secretary of State Kevin Tyne
Tucson Lawyer John Munger

I am also told there are dozens of other people trying to position themselves for the nomination, but these are some of the more prominent names being floated right now.

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.  

Laura Knaperek has endorsed apparent 5th Congressional District Republican primary winner David Schweikert.

“I congratulate David on a hard fought victory in the Republican primary,” Knaperek said in a statement. “We Republicans must unite behind David as he works to put CD 5 back in the Republican column."

The results of Tuesday's primary remain unofficial, but currently Schweikert holds a slight lead over Susan Bitter Smith, who garnered the second most votes in the six-way primary. Knaperek came in a distant third. 

David Schweikert is set to win the 5th Congressional District Republican primary.

With 97.6 percent of precincts reporting, Schweikert tops the six-person field with just under 30 percent of the vote. Susan Bitter Smith, who has kept pace with him throughout the night, currently has 28 percent of the vote, but it will not be enough to overcome Schweikert's lead.

Schweikert, who served as Arizona House majority leader and Maricopa County treasurer, will go on to face U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) in the general election.

Schweikert and Bitter Smith were the front runners throughout the counting, leading the rest of the field by double-digit margins. Former state Rep. Laura Knaperek came closest with over 15 percent of the vote, followed by state Rep. Mark Anderson (R-Mesa) with 13.6 percent, Jim Ogsbury at just under 12 percent and Lee Adam Gentry with a point-and-a-half.

DENVER -- U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) is not worried about the outcome of the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District, which will lead to the selection of his  opponent in the general election.

"It makes no difference," said Mitchell, when asked if he had a preferred candidate to face after the Sept. 2 primary. "We've always run tough races. This is my 17th election. We always run against Republicans in Republican districts. This is no different, we're ready for any of them."

Arizona’s 5th congressional district Republican primary was supposed to be one of the most exciting races we have seen in a long time. To date, it has been very quiet in actuality. Things seem to be picking up though as the primary date is quickly approaching. Here are some updates we have received.

Congressional candidate Jim Ogsbury: Campaign photoSCOTTSDALE -- Jim Ogsbury knows how to walk neighborhoods. He doesn’t mess with marker caps anymore – “I got sick of fumbling with them,” he explains – now he’s got a retractable one to mark off houses on his walk sheet. He also uses it to knock on doors, joking he “must have permanent tissue damage in my knuckles” from all the doors he’s knocked. By his count, that’s now about 16,000.

Today he is taking his quest for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District to a quiet Scottsdale street, rich in what Ogsbury terms “loyal Republican voters.” He plans to spend the afternoon, from 1:30 until dark, introducing himself to residents of house after house, chatting with the voters inside and putting campaign literature into their hands personally.

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe)Seth Scott, campaign manager for the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe), is responding to charges of inaction by Mitchell on the issue of the nation's energy crisis, which has been the main line of attack against the freshman Democrat.

"Harry has been talking about energy for two years now," Scott told PolitickerAZ.com. "To say that his position isn't clear indicates some people haven't been paying attention."

Mitchell has come under fire from his prospective opponents, who are engaged in a six-way Republican primary to face him on the general election ballot, as well as the National Republican Congressional Committee for what they characterize as the failures of the Democratic-controlled U.S. House, and Mitchell in specific, to take action on high gas prices.

Laura Knaperek, who is running in a field of six contenders for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District, has released a white paper detailing her views on energy. In what she terms the "50% Doctrine," Knaperek is calling for the United States to produce 50 percent of its own energy by 2028, a 15 percent increase, she said, over today's level.

"The American people are expecting Congress to take immediate action," said Knaperek. "The Congress must adopt a comprehensive plan of action for the short and long term while meeting the market demands in a cost efficient, environmentally-responsible manner. I’m prepared to do the hard work to help resolve America’s looming energy crisis."