Janet Napolitano passes on Senate run

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will pass on a run for the seat of retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) in order to remain in the Obama administration. 

DHS spokesman Sean Smith said Napolitano has informed senior Democratic officials of her intention to pass on the open Senate seat next year to continue “protecting the American people from terrorism and other threats to our country.”

“She cares deeply about Arizona, but the Secretary intends to continue doing the job that the President asked her to do — protecting the American people from terrorism and other threats to our country,” Smith said in a statement. “She’s focused on continuing to strengthen our counter-terrorism initiatives, border security, immigration enforcement, transportation and cyber security, and disaster preparedness.”

Napolitano, a former Arizona governor, was considered one of the top Democratic contenders for the open seat, but her numbers have dropped considerably in her home state since joining the Obama administration as DHS secretary.  

The next looming question for Arizona Democrats is the status of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who is still recovering from a gunshot wound to the head sustained in January. Given her quicker-than-anticipated recovery, Democrats are cautiously optimistic that Giffords could make a run for the seat next year.

Before January’s shooting, Giffords had informed her staff that she would make a run for the seat if Kyl opted for retirement. 

Republicans, meanwhile, have already begun to jump into the Senate race. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) was first out of the gate last week and is the early GOP favorite, already winning endorsements from the Club for Growth and the Tea Party group FreedomWorks.

Flake could still face a crowded GOP primary field, with Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio among those said to be considering getting into the race.