It is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to withdraw my candidacy in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District race. Given challenges that we did not foresee when we started, I have come to realize that there is not a clear pathway to victory under current circumstances, including restricted access to voters during a global pandemic. I want to thank my wife Shae for her inspiration and support during this fight for Southern Arizona.
I have had few more rewarding experiences than spending the last 9 months traveling around southern Arizona and meeting with moms and dads, veterans, teachers and students. I met with numerous small business owners, school superintendents, CEOs of Chambers of Commerce and non-profit organizations. I listened to their stories and heard their challenges, and I am proud that my policy experience in higher education, veterans issues and national security, and advocacy for our military bases, are directly relevant to their concerns. I remain convinced that the fight for our key Southern Arizona institutions – the University of Arizona, Raytheon Technologies, Fort Huachuca and Davis Monthan Air Force Base – is key to our economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic as is reviving our hundreds of thousands of small business jobs.
To the donors who supported my candidacy, to the volunteers who made phone calls and spoke on my behalf, to the Republican organizations who hosted me and the countless voters who encouraged me because of my expertise and experience, I give my most heartfelt thanks. I’m proud of our campaign’s effort to share critical information with the community on Covid-19 developments, promote the worthy non-profits that are in need during this crisis, provide protective masks to the men and women at Davis Monthan, as well as our initiative to help our out-of-work hospitality workers (“Tips for Tucson”) who have been severely impacted.
I leave this race inspired by the people of southern Arizona, and I am more committed than ever to continue to serve them and my community.