Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey opts out of Senate run — a setback for GOP hopes

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is not going to run for U.S. Senate this 12 months, the Republican stated Thursday, placing an finish to hypothesis that he would hop into probably the most hotly contested battles within the upcoming midterm elections.

His determination represents a setback for Republicans of their effort to recapture a majority within the Senate, which Democrats presently management by advantage of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote. A confirmed vote-getter in Arizona, Ducey was broadly seen as a robust opponent for incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly.

Ducey, in a letter to donors, stated that as a substitute of a Senate run, he would give attention to serving out his last time period and, by his function as chief of the Republican Governors Assn., assist attempt to win governorships for his social gathering throughout the nation.

Ducey is the third GOP governor this 12 months to say no to hunt a Senate seat regardless of dogged recruitment efforts by Senate GOP chief Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, two Republicans who’ve mounted profitable campaigns in blue states, additionally opted out of Senate races, indicating little urge for food for becoming a member of the gridlocked higher chamber.

“Today, when you’re going to run for public workplace, it’s important to really need the job. Proper now, I’ve the job I would like,” Ducey wrote within the letter, which was first reported by the Arizona Republic.

Republicans have various candidates already in line to problem Kelly, together with state Atty. Gen. Mark Brnovich, photo voltaic govt Jim Lamon, enterprise capital govt Blake Masters and retired Air Power Maj. Gen. Michael “Mick” McGuire, who used to guide the state’s Nationwide Guard. None, nevertheless, has as sturdy a observe document as Ducey, who handily gained two races for governor in Arizona, a tightly contested political battleground.

Ducey stated final 12 months that he was not planning on working for Senate. That didn’t cease McConnell and different Republicans from courting him.

On the opposite facet, how-ever, the governor had a key GOP opponent — former President Trump — who stays incensed that Ducey licensed President Biden’s razor-thin victory in Arizona within the 2020 presidential race. In statements and public appearances, Trump harangued Ducey for not endorsing the false conspiracy principle that Trump had truly gained the state.

“MAGA won’t ever settle for RINO Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona working for the U.S. Senate — So save your time, cash, and vitality, Mitch!” Trump stated in an announcement final month, branding the governor as a “Republican in title solely.”

Democrats cheered the information of Ducey’s determination Thursday morning.

“As soon as once more, Senate Republicans’ recruitment efforts have failed, and their high potential candidates are refusing to run in opposition to sturdy Democratic Senators like Mark Kelly,” Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee spokesman Patrick Burgwinkle stated in an announcement.

With Biden’s slumping approval scores, his social gathering remains to be bracing for midterm losses, however the Senate marketing campaign panorama is taken into account barely friendlier for Democrats than the battle for management of the Home.

Katharine Cooksey, spokeswoman for the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, stated Republicans nonetheless stay aggressive in taking up Kelly.

“Arizona voters have wonderful candidates to select from within the Republican major, and the NRSC is assured any of those excellent candidates can beat Mark Kelly in November,” she stated in an announcement.

Mike Noble, a Phoenix-based pollster, stated Ducey’s determination means Brnovich can “breathe a sigh of aid.”

“Nevertheless, it additionally signifies that any of the present Republicans candidates vying for the GOP nomination can win now,” he stated.