Politics: Gabrielle Giffords weighs strong on special election for her former seat
- 671 signatures needed for the special election for Giffords’ old seat
- 7,110 signatures received by Giffords’ former aide, Ron Barber source
- » His closest GOP competitor got a fraction of that: Barber, who was encouraged by Giffords to run for the seat, has a major leg up in the April 17 primary for Arizona’s eighth Congressional district. The special election takes place in June. However, while Barber will run uncontested for the primary this time around, Democrats may take him on in the general election in November. A variety of Republicans are running for the seat, which is in a swing district.