State Senator Steve Gallardo is dropping out of the race to represent Arizona's Seventh Congressional District. The Phoenix Democrat will instead run for an open seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
In February, longtime Congressman Ed Pastor announced his retirement. Gallardo was one of several potential candidates who stepped forward to run as Pastor's successor, including Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.
After Wilcox announced she'd resign from the county board to focus on her campaign, State Senator Anna Tovar considered running for Wilcox's seat. But last week, Tovar announced she wouldn't be a candidate for any public office this year.
In light of Tovar's decision, Gallardo announced Tuesday that he'd run for the open seat on the Maricopa County Board instead of for Congress.
In a statement, Gallardo says he'll make voting rights a priority if he's elected, and that he's already started gathering the necessary signatures to run.