West Valley Republicans Sen. Anthony Kern and House Speaker Ben Toma are running for an open seat in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
Kern, who was present at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, announced his candidacy on social media Monday night. Toma filed a statement of interest for the same seat. Kern is a member of the far-right legislative Freedom Caucus and the head of the Senate judiciary committee.
Toma could not be reached for comment, but he’s already launched a website accepting petition signatures for his congressional run. A longtime lawmaker, Toma was responsible for passing the expansion of school vouchers last year.
Kern and Toma join a crowded field in the GOP primary in CD8.
Republicans Abe Hamadeh and Blake Masters announced their own candidacies last week, although neither lives in the district. Hamadeh ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2022, but he is still contesting the results of that election. Masters ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate last year.
Republican Debbie Lesko, the incumbent in CD8, announced earlier this month she won’t run for reelection in the Republican district.
With Kern and Toma competing for the open congressional seat, their legislative district will get at least two new lawmakers next year.
