State Senator Kirsten Engel today announced her resignation from State Legislature. Engel is currently running for U.S. Congress and wants to devote her time to that. Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District will be a hotly contested seat, and as Engel stated, “it is not an endeavor to be taken lightly. I know how much work it will take to win this district, and I’m ready to take on that challenge whole-heartedly.”
On Twitter she wrote, “Serving the people of Legislative District 10 for the past 5 years has been my absolute honor and privilege. Today, I am announcing my resignation from the State Legislature in order to dedicate my full effort to the #AZ02 race, to continue to serve Southern Arizona in Congress.”
In March, Engel became the first candidate to put her name in the race to replace retiring Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick. She faces Democratic state Rep. Daniel Hernandez.
The Tucson resident is an environmental law professor at the University of Arizona and was elected last year to her first term in the Arizona Senate. She served two terms in the House. Earlier this month, state Rep. Randy Friese dropped out of the race.
