A Democratic takeover turned top GOP target

Cong. Ann Kirkpatrick defeated a right-wing ideologue in 2008 to win this open, GOP-held seat, and quickly found herself a target of the GOP’s take-back machine in 2010. Sarah Palin even put a crosshairs over Kirkpatrick’s district on her Facebook page! A staunch advocate for innovative energy policy, Kirkpatrick won in 2008 with broad and deep support from EMILY’s List members.

A self-made progressive leader

Born and raised among the Apache, Kirkpatrick worked her way through law school to become the first woman deputy county attorney in Coconino. In Congress, she’s taken leadership roles on veterans’ issues and job creation. Her sponsorship of a congressional pay cut burnished her credentials as a principled legislator with strong ethics.

A Democratic must-hold seat

Palin is backing Kirkpatrick’s GOP opponent, Paul Gosar, who is also endorsed by Arizona Right to Life. Democrats can’t afford to let this seat fall back into GOP hands and risk losing control of the House. As many accomplishments as Kirkpatrick’s racked up in Washington, Republicans know that the first re-election is the toughest – so she needs full support from EMILY’s List members to keep this seat in Democratic hands.

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