Tim Bee

Arizona state Senate Minority Leader-elect Jorge Luis Garcia (D-Tucson) said in a statement Thursday that he and the Democratic caucus in the Senate are "ready to work" to resolve an estimated $1.2 billion budget shortfall.

"The Senate Democrats remain available to resolve the budget deficit in a special session despite statements from both the Senate and House Republican leaders saying that time has run out," said Garcia. "We were previously asked by Republican leadership to set aside time to address the budget in a special session. We continue to be ready to do so within the range the Governor has proposed."

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.

Thursday night, twelve Arizona legislators were honored at the annual Governor's Celebration of Innovation awards for their work to help facilitate technology development in Arizona.

The awards, backed primarily by the Arizona Technology Council and presented by Tech Council CEO Steve Zylstra and Jan Lesher, chief of staff to Gov. Janet Napolitano, included the "Tech 10" - ten legislators who were highlighted for their contributions to technology advancement - plus two "Outstanding Legislator" awards to those who were especially influential.

Former 8th Congressional District Representative Jim Kolbe, a Republican, told PolitickerAZ.com he doesn't believe the double-digit victory of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) should deter Republicans from challenging her in the future.

"2008 is a very bad year for Republicans," Kolbe said.

He wouldn't comment on whether or not he thought state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson), who was 12 points behind Giffords with vote counting nearly complete.   

However, Kolbe did say that to defeat Giffords, "You have to have the right candidate."

It was a good night for Arizona's incumbent members of Congress, as all three representatives up for re-election are set to be returned to office in January.

Republican challenger David Schweikert came closest to pulling an upset, but not very close. He trailed U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) by a little over nine points with 97 percent of returns in.

At 99 percent of precincts reporting, U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) had a larger margin over his opponent, Democrat Bob Lord, leading 54 to 42 in the 3rd District.

Tim Bee, president of the Arizona State Senate, had the same deficit against U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (R-Tucson) as of midnight, attracting 43 percent to Giffords's 55. However, with only 73 percent of precincts in, it's still possible Bee could pull an upset over the first term 8th District Democrat.

Here are the Election Night happenings for congressional candidates and Sen. John McCain.

This post will be updated as events are announced.

JOHN MCCAIN:

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

2400 E. Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85016

This is a ticketed event. No one without a ticket will be admitted.

The final few days of a campaign usually brings the candidate speaking straight into the camera. The message to votes is usually why the candidate is worthy of their vote. Tim Bee's latest ad, paid for by the RNC, does just that.    

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) is mocking rival Tim Bee over an ad he is running that is virtually identical to an ad from the campaign of Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Steelman against her opponent, U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (D-Missouri).

"Tim Bee's latest television advertisement does more than continue his campaign's unblemished streak of relying on distortions and false claims to attack Congresswoman Giffords – it's a cheap cut-and-paste job," said Eric Swedlund, spokesman for the Giffords campaign, in a press release.

Both ads feature two drawling, folksy characters, Ed and Orville, who lead an "earmark" tour based on the votes of Giffords and Hulshof. The same actors appear in the ads, and for the most part the scripts are the same as well.

Tim Bee has a new television ad. Bee is not using a Joe the Plumber, but Ed, who was to hip for Woodstock.    

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has poured millions of dollars' worth of television advertising into competitive U.S. House races in Arizona, is either drastically scaling back or ending its TV presence in the 8th and 5th Congressional Districts, according to a Democratic strategist with knowledge of the DCCC's plans.

The change in the 8th District was first reported on the liberal blog Rum, Romanism and Rebellion, and confirmed to PolitickerAZ.com, along with the shift in the 5th district strategy.

"Congresswoman [Gabrielle] Giffords has been a great member of confidence, and the DCCC is confident of her chances" against her challenger, state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson), said the Democratic insider.