Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) on Friday announced her bid for Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-Ariz.) soon-to-be-vacated seat, throwing herself into what is certain to be heated Republican primary against former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former state Sen. Kelli Ward. Despite having the support of "many GOP leaders in Arizona and Washington," The Washington Times writes, McSally is positioning herself "as anything but an establishment candidate." Her first campaign ad, released Friday, goes so far as to brag about the fact that she has "taken the fight to the enemy — and the establishment."
McSally did not endorse President Trump in 2016, but she further aligns herself with the administration by saying, "Like our president, I'm tired of PC politicians and their BS excuses. I'm a fighter pilot, and I talk like one. That's why I told Washington Republicans to grow a pair of ovaries and get the job done." McSally additionally includes a video clip of Trump praising her as "tough" and "the real deal."
Trump won Arizona in the 2016 presidential election by a relatively slim margin of 4 points. It isn't yet clear whom he will support in the race: Trump pardoned McSally's primary competitor, Arpaio, last year, and Ward was "an early favorite of now-disgraced former Trump adviser Steve Bannon," The Washington Times writes. Watch McSally's campaign ad below. Jeva Lange