Democratic candidate for Congressional District 1 Miguel Olivas ended his campaign Wednesday morning, just as a lawsuit questioning his residency in the sprawling district was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Reached by phone Wednesday, Olivas indicated he voluntarily bowed out because he moved several months ago and the petition signatures turned into secretary of state reflected his old address.
While both addresses are in the district, Olivas acknowledged that his recent move could have caused political headaches.
But where he lived might not have been his only problem. The Democratic candidate turned in fewer than 1,800 signatures — a few hundred under the bare minimum to qualify as a candidate.
Olivas ran against Sedona Democrat Tom O’Halleran in 2016 and lost, receiving about 40 percent of the vote in the primary.
With Olivas bowing out of the race, in his bid for another term Rep. O’Halleran will face the winner of a three-way primary fight between Republicans Wendy Rogers, Tiffany Shedd and Steve Smith.
The issue of addresses listed on petition signatures has popped up in another race, with former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick facing a legal challenge on whether either of the Tucson addresses she listed on her petition forms is accurate.
The lawsuit, funded by political rival Matt Heinz, argues that Kirkpatrick lives in Phoenix — which is outside of Congressional District 2.
