Mary Kim Titla

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.

Congressional candidate Mary Kim Titla: Campaign photoEnergy was the topic of the day in all four of the competitive congressional races in Arizona. Mary Kim Titla, Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District, released an energy plan, while state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) visited a gas station to discuss the nation's fuel crisis. Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee kept up their assault on U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) over voting against bringing a Republican energy bill up for a vote.

Titla unveiled a five-point plan to combat the nation's fuel problems, a day after Republican candidate Sydney Hay revealed her own five-point plan. Both Hay and Titla believe a revamp of the nation's oil refinery system is necessary, but while Hay's focus is on expanding the production capacity of America's oil refineries, Titla proposes a national air quality standard to eliminate some of the dozens of blends refineries currently produce.

1st Congressional District candidate Ann Kirkpatrick has announced that her campaign raised over $320,000 between April 1 and June 30. The campaign said that left them with an on hand total of just under $700,000.

"Our record fundraising efforts coupled with our strong grassroots support show that [Arizonans] know Ann is the leader they are looking for," said Kirkpatrick adviser Michael Frias in a statement from the campaign. "We are going to keep gaining momentum. Along with the organization we have built throughout the district, these record fundraising totals position us well to keep winning new supporters for Ann through the primary and right up to Election Day in November."

Kirkpatrick's 1st quarter numbers put her well ahead of the pack in the Democratic primary, and 2Q saw her raise $70k more. The only other 1st district Democrat to release her numbers from the 2nd quarter is Mary Kim Titla, who raised over $50k.

Mary Kim Titla raised over $53,000 in the second quarter of the year, according to her campaign manager Randy Camacho. The Globe Democrat is the first candidate in the 1st Congressional District field to release her fundraising totals for 2Q.

However, Camacho declined to answer how much the campaign currently has on hand. He also noted the total includes in-kind donations.

Titla is running against Democrats Jeffrey Brown, Ann Kirkpatrick and Howard Shanker to earn a spot on the ballot against the eventual Republican nominee. The seat is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Flagstaff), who is under indictment on federal charges of money laundering, fraud and extortion.

The Arizona AFL-CIO has unveiled its endorsements in this year's U.S. House primaries, though only one of the candidates is actually engaged in a primary, and one primary was bypassed altogether.

All candidates who received endorsements were Democrats, and included the four Democratic members of the Arizona House delegation, though none faces a primary. Other recipients were Bob Lord, who is taking on U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) in the 3rd Congressional District; John Thrasher, a Democrat who is running for the second time against U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Glendale) in the 2nd Congressional District; and Ann Kirkpatrick, the front-runner in the 1st Congressional District Democratic pack.

"These candidates share our vision of what is important to Arizona’s working families," said Rebekah Friend, the Arizona AFL-CIO's executive director. "It is crucial for the future of Arizona that we elect those who are going to step up to the plate and fight for the issues that will move Arizona forward. We’re convinced that these candidates will do just that."