Democrat Kirkpatrick Running for Senate Against McCain

U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick announced her candidacy Tuesday for the U.S. Senate seat now held by John McCain.

Kirkpatrick, a Democrat who represents Arizona's 1st Congressional District, said in a statement that she would "be humbled to represent our state in the United States Senate."

She is in her third term representing eastern Arizona. Her district stretches from the Utah state line to the northernmost part of Pima County, incorporating parts of Oro Valley.

Kirkpatrick represented the district for one term starting in 2009, and in the 2010 election, she was defeated by Republican Paul Gosar by six points. She regained the seat in 2012 and won re-election in 2014, when the Republican Party spent millions trying to defeat her.

In the 2014 election, she fended off Republican Andy Tobin, a former speaker of the state House of Representatives, winning by a five-point margin.

Kirkpatrick made her announcement Tuesday in a video sent to supporters, pointing to her roots in the state, including her birth on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Her 2014 victory came with a strong majority of Native American votes in the district that includes a half-dozen tribes.

"I respect John McCain's service to the nation," Kirkpatrick said in the video. "I just believe our state is changing. Arizonans should have a real choice who they send to the United States Senate."

She acknowledged that "Washington insiders" already are attacking her and the campaign will be tough. The Republican National Congressional Committee has been hammering Kirkpatrick for the last three months, trying to link her to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

McCain has announced he plans to seek a sixth term next year. Some Republicans in the state have expressed unhappiness with him for his stand on immigration reform and other issues, and there has been discussion of a challenge in the primary election by a more conservative candidate.