(The Center Square) – Democratic incumbent Greg Stanton has secured his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Arizona’s 4th Congressional District. Stanton beat his Republican opponent Kelly Cooper with 52.7% of the votes at 99% of precincts reporting.
“Thank you to the people of Arizona’s Fourth District for trusting me to continue serving as your voice in Congress,” reads a statement from Stanton on X. “I’ve served under Democratic and Republican presidential administrations. My approach to governing has always been the same – I’ll work with anyone when it’s in Arizonans’ best interests, but I won’t pull punches when our fundamental values come under attack.”
During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Stanton has worked to secure CHIPS funding to bring semiconductor production to Arizona, improve health outcomes for tribal nations and fund Valley Fever vaccine research.
Additionally, Stanton has worked to initiate immigration reform by leading the New Democrat Coalition Immigration and Border Security Task Force and releasing a framework for bipartisan reform earlier this year.
This framework includes eliminating the per-country cap for employment-based immigration visas, increasing the number of available EB visas, creating a pathway for migrant farmworkers to gain legal status, allowing physicians studying in the U.S. a pathway into the country after graduation, granting Dreamers permanent resident status and giving undocumented temporary legal status if they have been in the U.S. for over five years, pay a fine and pass a background check.
When it comes to securing the border, the legislation would increase the funding for the Department of Homeland Security to increase the number of border patrol agents and CBP officers. Additionally, it would designate funding to upgrade the technology used at the border and to expedite immigration legal proceedings.
In the days after the election Cooper encouraged Arizonans to cure their ballots. Curing ballots is when voters are given the opportunity to correct any inconsistencies or signature issues that would disqualify their vote. However, even with those cured votes, Cooper did not pull through.
“Today, the voters have spoken, and I respect their decision,” reads a news release from the Cooper campaign. “From the beginning, I ran this race to make a difference for our families, our businesses, and our future. While I may not be serving in Congress, I remain committed to this community and to advocating for the principles we believe in – personal freedom, economic opportunity, and the protection of the American Dream.”
Cooper is a local business owner and ran his campaign on the fact that he is not a politician, believing that “politics should be a calling – not a career,” according to his campaign website.
His priorities for Congress were to lower taxes, reduce government red tape, protect school choice, secure the border, modernize immigration policies, create resources for those struggling with mental illness to reduce homelessness and take steps to achieve energy independence.
Stanton’s win keeps one U.S. House seat from being handed over to Republicans next year. However, the GOP still has an edge on the Democrats to achieve a majority in the House.
