By slim 167 votes, McSally wins Arizona Congressional race

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 12/18/14

In November the congressional race between Warwick native Republican Martha McSally and Democratic incumbent Ron Barber for Arizona’s 2nd District was so close there was an automatic recount. Over …

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By slim 167 votes, McSally wins Arizona Congressional race

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In November the congressional race between Warwick native Republican Martha McSally and Democratic incumbent Ron Barber for Arizona’s 2nd District was so close there was an automatic recount. Over a month later the count is finalized and it was scheduled to be announced last night that McSally beat Barber by a mere 167 votes. In the recount McSally picked up six votes.

The Bay View Academy alumnus said in a press release, “We’re grateful to everyone who devoted their time and resources, especially during the extended vote and recount processes, to get us over the finish line. With the results of the recount now official, we can move forward as one community to bring Southern Arizonians the strong representation they deserve.”

During the initial vote, McSally led Barber by 161 votes. In a congressional race it is mandatory that there be 200 votes between candidates for a clear-cut win. Without it, an automatic recount was necessary.

In a phone interview yesterday McSally said, “In 2012 I thought I had won and then found out I lost in the recount. Then here I was again in this year’s election. It was definitely a roller coaster ride, but this is my only experience with elections. This is my normal. It’s like coming up to the finish line of a marathon and learning you have to run another 10K.”

She beat out Barber by less than one-tenth of one percent. According to the State of Arizona’s Official Canvas 219,351 people voted during the election and McSally received 109,704 of those votes.

Concerning those who didn’t vote for her, McSally said, “This was the closest race in the country, and I want to reach out to those communities that didn’t vote for me and hear them out, but also have them get to know me as a person and show them I’m a leader.”

She said, “There is no getting around that this was an incredibly close and hard-fought race. After what’s been a long campaign season, it’s time to come together and heal our community. That’s why my focus will be on what unites us, not what divides us, such as providing better economic opportunity for our families and ensuring out country and community are kept safe.”

Martha is not a stranger to tough fights. After graduating from Bay View, McSally attended the United States Air Force Academy to become a pilot. In 1995 she flew her first combat mission in Iraq to enforce a “no fly” zone. She has received numerous military commendations as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from Rhode Island College and a Lifetime Achievement award from the National Center in Women in Policing.

She is the first woman in United States history to not only fly but also command a fighter jet and squadron in combat. While stationed in Saudi Arabia, she opposed a military directive that American service women wear the religious Muslim Abaya when off base. She took her fight to the courts and won. She believes her military service has been a big influence on not only her life but also her ability as a politician.

McSally in an interview at the beginning of her campaign said, “My family taught me to treasure hard work, service, education and making a difference.” She said that through her military career and now as a politician she has strove to make the family that taught her her values proud. Some of her family went out to Arizona the week before the elections to help in the campaigning.

McSally said, “My family has been tremendously supportive and it has meant a lot to me that they came out to support me. My mom really rallied when she was out here, telling everyone, ‘I’m Martha’s mom. Are you going to vote for her?’”

Her late father, Bernard McSally, was the chairman of the School Committee. McSally’s mother, Eleanor, a retired teacher from Scott Elementary, said, “She’s really driven to make her father proud and she’s done that. I’m proud, too.”

In winning, Congresswoman McSally is gracious to her opponent Ron Barber and thanked him for his service, saying she planned to look to him for “input to continue strong constituent services.”

In her statement McSally said, “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know that we’re a community dedicated and united in our love for Southern Arizona, and, together, we can make a positive difference.”

McSally will be officially sworn into Congress in Jan. 6, 2015.

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