/ Modified aug 12, 2016 2:26 p.m.

Gowan Suspends Campaign for 1st Congressional District

Arizona Speaker says he was not gaining enough support to win primary.

David Gowan portrait

Republican David Gowan has suspended his campaign for Congress in Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

The Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives said in a news release he was gaining support, but not enough.

"While I was glad to see that our media and grassroots efforts were having a positive effect on our numbers, the improvement was not coming fast enough to win," he said in the release.

Gowan was in a crowded race with five other Republicans for the party nomination in the district. There are also two Democrats running in the district, which stretches from Oro Valley to Utah and the Grand Canyon to New Mexico. The seat is open because U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Flagstaff), is running for U.S. Senate this year.

Gowan’s departure reduces the pool of candidates, but his name will still appear on the primary ballot. Votes have already been cast at early polling places, and early ballots have already arrived in voters' mailboxes.

Gowan endorsed rancher Gary Kiehne in the Republican primary, saying Kiehne is best positioned to beat Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.

"For all of our various differences, what every other candidate in this race can agree on is that Paul Babeu must not be our nominee if we are to prevail in November," Gowan wrote.

He asked the other Republicans in the race to endorse Kiehne, too.

"Gary’s a solid conservative and the candidate who will be able to coalesce enough support in the general election to win this very important seat."

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