Sheriff Paul Babeu is taking another stab at a Congressional seat. File photo

Ann Kirkpatrick represents Arizona’s District 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives, but not for long.

The Democrat is challenging John McCain for a U.S. Senate seat. That is drawing an interesting mix into the 2016 race for her seat.

Monday, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu threw his hat in the ring.

“I’ve spent seven years fighting Washington’s inaction and now it’s time to bring the fight directly to our nation’s capital,” Babeu said. “I will work tirelessly to protect the residents of rural Arizona, shrink the federal government, overturn Obamacare and guard against attacks on the Second Amendment.”

Congressional District 1 is geographically the largest in the state, stretching from the Utah border down to Graham County.

Others who have announced their candidacy for Congressional District 1 are former Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R), State Sen. Barbara McGuire (D), former state Sen. Tom O’Halleran, who recently switched to the Democratic Party, businessman Miguel Olivas (D), businessman Gary Kiehne (R) and businessman Shawn Redd (R).

Babeu previously ran for Congress in 2012 but dropped out in the middle of a scandal involving a former lover.

The first day to file candidate nomination petitions is May 2.

Those who have announced their candidacy for the U.S. Senate besides Kirkpatrick are businessman Alex Meluskey (R), retired business owner Clair Van Steenwyk (R), State Sen. Kelli Ward, businessman J.L Mealer (independent) and Tea Party activist Joann Lopez-Cervantez (independent).

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