Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - In the race for State Representative for District 8, Jesse Kelly won the republican ticket, with 49 percent of the vote. He defeated Jonathan Paton, Brian Miller and Jay Quick.

In november, Kelly will be going up against incumbent Gabrielle Giffords, who ran uncontested for the democratic nomination.

"The voters this year are ready for citizen legislators. They're tired of career politicians, big spenders like Gabrielle Giffords, and they're going to send her home," Kelly said.

Those fighting words came from fresh out the ballot box republican nominee Jesse Kelly, Tuesday night. Kelly is confident he will win over the same voters who supported Giffords in the last two elections.

Giffords says she is ready to stand her ground.

"I'm going to run on my work that I've done, I'm going to run on my reputation, and my focus on the people of Southern Arizona. And my record really speaks for itself," Giffords said.

Both candidates have just months to convince voters they are on the right side of the issues that matter most.

Kelly's mind is on the economy.

"Remind them that she voted for the TARP, the stimulus, the bank bailouts, the healthcare, the cap and trade, the worst of the worst, right now, Gabrielle Giffords, they're voting for that down the line," Kelly said.

As for Giffords, the border is a big part of her campaign.

"Southern Arizona has been ignored for far too long. For years and for decades, the Tucson sector has been responsible for more than half of the seizures, more than half of the apprehensions," Giffords said.

For now Kelly has at least one man on his team, his closest opponent, Jonathan Paton.

"We will definitely be supporting the nominee, whoever that may be," Paton said Tuesday night.