Arizona Republican Debbie Lesko and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni advance to special U.S. House election


Arizona Republicans dodged what one GOP operative called a potential "Roy Moore situation" Tuesday when former state Sen. Debbie Lesko (R) beat former state Senate colleague Steve Montenegro (R) in the Republican primary for an April 24 election to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Trent Franks (R) in December. Lesko, endorsed by former Gov. Jan Brewer (R), had 36 percent of the vote in the 12-candidate field, while Montenegro, backed by Franks and Sen. Ted Cruz (R), had 24 percent, according to partial returns. The Associated Press named her the winner, and Montenegro conceded.
Montenegro, a married Christian minister, has been buffeted for a week by revelations that he traded salacious text messages with a former aide, who also sent him at least one nude photo. It's not clear how much that scandal affected the race, since most of the ballots had been mailed in by the time the scandal hit. Lesko was accused by one of her GOP opponents of illegally transferring $50,000 from her state Senate coffers to a PAC supporter her congressional campaign.
On the Democratic side, Hiral Tipirneni, an emergency room physician, beat transgender activist Brianna Westbrook. Lesko is favored to win the seat.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats