Flake to announce Senate bid
Washington (CNN) - Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona will announce later Monday that he'll make a bid for the seat of retiring Sen. Jon Kyl, a GOP source confirms to CNN.
The three-term Kyl, the second ranking Republican in the Senate, announced Thursday that he would not run for a fourth term next year.
Flake, a six term congressman, represents Arizona's six congressional district, which is just to the southeast of the Phoenix-Tempe metropolitan area. Flake is expected to kick off his Senate bid at the same Phoenix hotel where Kyl last week announced his retirement when his current term ends.
After Kyl's announcement last week, the Club for Growth encouraged Flake to run for the Senate, calling him "one of America's most vocal champions for limited government and economic liberty. He is the perfect successor to Jon Kyl in the Senate."
The Club for Growth is a fiscally conservative organization that endorses and contributes to Republican candidates.
The most recent Federal Election Commission report shows Flake with a over $627,000 cash on hand, a pretty healthy warchest to begin a campaign.
Former GOP Rep. John Shadegg was also considered another contender for Kyl's seat, but he said on Friday that he would not run. Other possible Republican candidates include Rep. Trent Franks, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and state Senate President Russell Pearce.
Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had been contemplating a run for Senate before she was shot last month, Democratic sources last week confirmed to CNN. One Democratic congressman told CNN he talked to Giffords about it before the shooting, and says she was "very interested in the possibility of running for the Senate."
- CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash and CNN Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report
–Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
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He should be the leader of the GOP. His name is the perfect representation of the party.....
I know it's a bit childish, but isn't Flake a perfect name for an Arizona republican? Or perhaps a democrat from California.
Maybe Giffords will be well enough to run for the seat in 20121!! I mean when you think about it – I never saw Kyl or even CAN'Tor from my district – on the CORNER reaching out to their constituents!!
GET WELL GABI SOON!!!
The state that acts like the 'black sheep' of the family, there is no hope for Arizona.
Hasn't Arizona given us enough GOP Flakes? (Sorry, couldn't pass on this one)
Gotta love his name. I can see the campaign slogan now: "Put a Flake in the Senate!" With the Democratic counter: "Do you really want another Republican Flake elected to anything?"
Like an old friend always says, "You just can't make this stuff up!"
The Club for the Rich, er, Club for Growth, has endorsed him? Just what we need, another apologist for the Uber Rich in the Senate. The super rich will stay rich, barring a major lapse of their part: why should what they say have any bearing on any Senate Race? The only thing they advocate is a return to the Guilded Age.
BTW, can anyone name a single law Mr. Flake has passed the decade he has been on the federal payroll? Any significant legislation he has advocated besides the " No Millionaire Left Behind" tax cuts?
Anyone?
He's got the perfect name to represent this loony state.
that's just what we need – another flake in the Republican Party – wassa matter – is Sarah busy
Well, his last name says it all, doesn't it?
The dumbos in Arizona will probably vote for him because he's photogenic and spouts all the usual rightwing rhetoric ...
I hope Rep. Giffords recuperates in time to run for Senate.
Flake .... isn't Arianzona so full of Flakes he'll win by a landslide. lol
But aren't there already enough Flakes in the Arianzona politics ....... like all of them. ha hah hah ha
I thought Pearce wrote a bill that Arizona did not have to follow the laws of the United States, which allows them to secede from the union.
I thought Jeff Flake made a promise to leave Washington after two terms as a representative.
Name, FLAKE, says it all. Chief Immigration Fanatic Russell Pearce will get most of the NRA votes to take us back to the good old Territorial Days. Chief Profiler Sheriff Joe might end up in his own jail. Chief Imported Personality Bristol Palin could run for Pearce's seat in the State (sic) Senate. She has to start somewhere near the top as Chief Blank Stare Gov Jan Brewer will probably remain in the headlights. This used to be a nice place till all the good old boys got tired of shootin' coyotes and decided to take us back to the 1800s to shoot cans. You betcha !
In the Reagan era Republican party his last name might have been a slightly akward obstacle-now its a selling point.