Arizona Rep. Franks passes on Senate bid

Arizona Rep. Trent Franks (R) has decided not to run for Sen. Jon Kyl’s (R-Ariz.) seat, a decision that might help the GOP avert a contentious primary.

The five-term congressman was expected to announce a bid this weekend, but said Friday afternoon he won’t seek the GOP Senate nomination.

{mosads}”After diligently and prayerfully trying to consider every aspect a potential Senate bid would entail, I have sincerely concluded that mounting a Senate bid at this time would not be what is best for my family, nor what would best allow me to serve my country at this critical time in her history,” Franks said in a statement.

Franks’s decision is a boost to Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who is the only declared candidate in the field for the GOP nod. In a statement, Flake said he was relieved not to face his colleague in a primary. “Trent is a good friend and I’m glad I won’t have to face off against him in a campaign,” said Flake.

Even after a report that he would enter the race this weekend, Franks told The Ballot Box earlier in the week that he had not yet decided to run. His decision to pass on a bid came as a surprise to Arizona Republicans, who had expected him to be a strong contender to succeed Kyl, who announced in February he won’t seek another term in 2012. 

In the lengthy statement issued by his House office, Franks said he “made no secret about the fact that I was very actively considering the possibility” of running for Senate.

But the conservative Republican said the main reason he decided not to run was his position in the new GOP House majority.

“I now have the distinct honor of serving as Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, in addition to my roles on the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees and the Strategic Forces Subcommittee; as well as my positions of leadership on numerous vital caucuses, including the EMP Caucus, the Missile Defense Caucus, the International Religious Freedom Caucus, and the Israel Allies Caucus,” he said.
 
“Considering certain critical bills being debated in the house along with ongoing and recent developments in the world, and the overall direction our country is taking, along with my tenure and committee assignments, I believe I can best serve my country at this time by remaining in and running for reelection to the U.S House of Representatives.”

Franks’s decision may open the door for former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) to mount a bid. 

During a recent trip to Washington, Hayworth said Flake merely has the support of “the Washington crowd.”

“I don’t blame Jeff for trying to foster the delusions of inevitability and invincibility, but I think rather than the Washington crowd deciding things, I think people in Arizona will,” Hayworth said. 

Hayworth, who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for the Senate nomination in 2010, said he’s weighing his options. “We’ve got some time,” he said.

–Shane D’Aprile contributed

–Updated at 6:55 p.m.