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Conservative Graf to take on Kolbe in Congressional race
By NATE SEARING/Wick News Service
Arizona House Majority Whip Randy Graf formally announced his bid last Saturday to unseat, Congressman Jim Kolbe, a fellow Republican.
Speaking to a crowd of about 80 people, Graf touted himself as "The Real Republican For Congress," hammering a list of issues such as a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, enforcing immigration laws, balancing the federal budget and lowering taxes, issues that he said of Kolbe, "for too long, this district has had its trust betrayed by the man whose job it is to represent us."
Graf, 45, is forcibly outspoken about his displeasure with Kolbe on topics such as abortion, immigration reform and border security. Kolbe has been a longtime proponent of a guest worker plan for Mexican nationals despite opposition in Cochise County.
"Congressman Jim Kolbe has abandoned the Republican Party ... choosing to side with liberal special interests on everything from protecting our borders to defending traditional marriage," Graf writes in a letter to potential voters.
The state representative said his highest priorities are balancing the federal budget, preserving family values and securing the national borders with law enforcement and an effective immigration policy.
"We need to close the borders completely before we even consider some sort of guest worker program," Graf said before his announcement speech. "It's time."
The Sierra Vista rally drew about 200 Graf supporters throughout the day.
Graf said his biggest challenge at this point is expanding his message into parts of the congressional district where voters may not know who he is.
Kolbe routinely faces staunch criticism from Republicans in Cochise County who are angry over what they view as a lax border policy. It's a criticism Graf said extends out to all of Cochise County, the area where Graf is least known in the congressional district.
"I'm not expecting a lot of big name endorsements, either from the party or corporate, but there are a lot of people who are on our side," Graf said. "I'm running against a 10-term incumbent and that's quite a task ... this has been a grassroots effort and will have to continue as such, but we'll get there."
Graf is currently the Majority Whip in the Arizona Legislature, representing District 30, which encompasses Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca through the eastern regions of Pima County and Tucson. The area was previously part of District 9, which Graf also represented at the time.
While Congressman Kolbe did not respond directly to the Graf announcement, he did release a statement Wednesday regarding his intentions to run for re-election.
"It is a great honor to serve the people of Southern Arizona in Congress ... I intend to formally announce my reelection campaign later this year so that I can continue to fight for the hardworking families of Southern Arizona."
He will be seeking his 11th term in the office.
Congressional District 8 covers all of southeastern Arizona including
Cochise County and portions of Santa Cruz and Pima counties. The district includes about half of Tucson.
The Republican primary between Graf and Kolbe will be decided Sept. 7.
No Democratic candidates have thrown their hats into the ring at this time.
Speaking to a crowd of about 80 people, Graf touted himself as "The Real Republican For Congress," hammering a list of issues such as a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, enforcing immigration laws, balancing the federal budget and lowering taxes, issues that he said of Kolbe, "for too long, this district has had its trust betrayed by the man whose job it is to represent us."
Graf, 45, is forcibly outspoken about his displeasure with Kolbe on topics such as abortion, immigration reform and border security. Kolbe has been a longtime proponent of a guest worker plan for Mexican nationals despite opposition in Cochise County.
"Congressman Jim Kolbe has abandoned the Republican Party ... choosing to side with liberal special interests on everything from protecting our borders to defending traditional marriage," Graf writes in a letter to potential voters.
The state representative said his highest priorities are balancing the federal budget, preserving family values and securing the national borders with law enforcement and an effective immigration policy.
"We need to close the borders completely before we even consider some sort of guest worker program," Graf said before his announcement speech. "It's time."
The Sierra Vista rally drew about 200 Graf supporters throughout the day.
Graf said his biggest challenge at this point is expanding his message into parts of the congressional district where voters may not know who he is.
Kolbe routinely faces staunch criticism from Republicans in Cochise County who are angry over what they view as a lax border policy. It's a criticism Graf said extends out to all of Cochise County, the area where Graf is least known in the congressional district.
"I'm not expecting a lot of big name endorsements, either from the party or corporate, but there are a lot of people who are on our side," Graf said. "I'm running against a 10-term incumbent and that's quite a task ... this has been a grassroots effort and will have to continue as such, but we'll get there."
Graf is currently the Majority Whip in the Arizona Legislature, representing District 30, which encompasses Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca through the eastern regions of Pima County and Tucson. The area was previously part of District 9, which Graf also represented at the time.
While Congressman Kolbe did not respond directly to the Graf announcement, he did release a statement Wednesday regarding his intentions to run for re-election.
"It is a great honor to serve the people of Southern Arizona in Congress ... I intend to formally announce my reelection campaign later this year so that I can continue to fight for the hardworking families of Southern Arizona."
He will be seeking his 11th term in the office.
Congressional District 8 covers all of southeastern Arizona including
Cochise County and portions of Santa Cruz and Pima counties. The district includes about half of Tucson.
The Republican primary between Graf and Kolbe will be decided Sept. 7.
No Democratic candidates have thrown their hats into the ring at this time.
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