Arizona: Gabrielle Giffords’ Aide Ron Barber to Run in Special
By Abby Livingston
Posted at 11:05 a.m. on Feb. 9
(Jonathan Gibby/Getty Images)
Updated 1:03 p.m. | Ron Barber, an aide to ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) will announce this morning that he will run in the Arizona special election to replace her.
The co-chairs of the Democrat’s campaign have begun informing others of the decision, according to a knowledgeable source. Barber is expected to make the announcement via press release. The source also confirmed that Barber will only be running as a placeholder to fill out the remainder of Giffords’ term and he will not run in November for a full term.
Barber was shot twice, once in the face and once in the leg, in the January 2011 rampage at a Tucson, Ariz., Safeway that also injured Giffords.
Updated 1:03 p.m.
Barber released a statement confirming his candidacy:
“My first priority won’t be the next election – but the next generation. That means balancing the budget the right way by protecting Social Security and Medicare, creating jobs and securing our border.”
