Newcomer hopes for major upset in Arizona contest
Tipirneni seen as a fresh Democratic face with relatively moderate views
ADemocratic newcomer is looking to pull off an upset victory for an open US House seat in Arizona that has been held by Republicans since the early 1980s.
Hiral Tipirneni, an emergency room physician and a cancer research advocate, was hoping to replicate Democratic wins in Pennsylvania, Alabama and other states in a year where opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies have boosted the party’s chances in Republican strongholds.
Still, many observers in Arizona see Tipirneni’s odds as slim against the Republican, former state Sen. Debbie Lesko.
They were facing off in yesterday’s special election to replace former Rep. Trent Franks in Arizona’s 8th District, who resigned in December amid sexual harassment allegations.
Opposed to border wall
Lesko represented parts of the district since 2009 and has an extremely strong base of support in a district Franks had locked up since 2003.
She’s opposed to Tipirneni’s push to expand governmentrun health care, backs the president’s tax cuts and is pushing his border wall proposal.
“I support securing the border, and part of that is paying for and putting up a border wall where it makes sense,” Lesko said. “She is totally opposed and is on record of opposing any money going toward the border wall. This is not what our constituents want.”
Tipirneni is pushing a plan that would allow people under retirement age to opt-in to Medicare coverage and opposes building a wall with Mexico while boosting enforcement through technology and drones.