CONGRESSIONAL RUMORS

posted by Andrea Kelly

The Arizona Republic reported this weekend that State Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu City, is considering running for Congress in what will likely be the new district 4.

If the districts don't change, Gould could end up in a primary race with Paul Babeu, Republican Sheriff of Pinal County. It's worth noting that neither of the men have formally filed an exploratory committee, according to online Internal Revenue Service records. Once a person is officially a candidate for office, their financial accounting is done through the Federal Election Commission. While considering a run, potential candidates must create an exploratory committee through the IRS.

Keep in mind the puzzle of redistricting is not yet fully put together. The draft maps are still the subject of public hearings throughout the state, and need final approval from the U.S. Justice Department. Then there's the other issue of contention about whether the mapping process has been fair and legal, which is also still playing out.