Ann Kirkpatrick Discusses Campaign Strategy as She Rallies for a Seat in the U.S. Senate

By: Cindy G. Castillo

Ann Kirkpatrick has been a representative for Arizona’s first congressional district since 2013.

Born and raised in the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona, Kirkpatrick is a third-generation Arizonan who knows and understands the needs of her state. Her trailblazing experience has led her to serve as a lawyer, prosecutor, state legislator, and congresswoman.

Today, she represents Arizona’s Congressional District One, which covers 11 of the state’s 15 counties. That’s nearly the entire Eastern half of the state, including the White Mountains.

“My work has always been around jobs and building a stronger, more stable economy in Arizona,” Kirkpatrick said. She admits our state still needs help, and is lagging behind the national average in terms of good paying jobs — particularly in the rural area. One of her main goals is simple: getting people back to work in good-paying jobs.

In her commitment to do so, she’s already made several investments in education, infrastructure, and job training. She believes a quality education is the “birthright of every child,” but says “our education system is failing our families.”

And when it comes to immigration and our state, Kirkpatrick says Arizona “has suffered for far too long” from the failure of leaders in Washington to fix a “broken” immigration system.

Now, Kirkpatrick is moving forward in creating change as she challenges Senator John McCain for his U.S. Senate seat in the upcoming November election. She’s already been endorsed by former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini, and dozens of other current and former elected officials from across the state.

“I travel all over the state .. and as I hear from people all across [I feel] they would like a new voice in Congress and I’m going to offer them that choice,” she explains and agrees that now more than ever, is the time to get people out there registered and ready to vote.

“We really plan on knocking on doors, making phone calls and registering voters,  you know, just constantly opening up those lines of communication,” she said.

Kirkpatrick is devoted now more than ever, driven by her greatest motivator — her nine-month-old grandson, John Richard, now a fifth-generation Arizonan.

“I think a lot about what kind of world he’s going to grow up in and that really motivates me in this race,” she said, “I want him to grow up and have opportunities in a better Arizona.”

She states on her official website: “Arizona families deserve a senator who is fighting for them, not special interests. I will stand with them to get things done for our state. For me, Arizona always comes first.”