Club For Growth Endorses GOP Opponent To Harry Mitchell

The anti-tax Club for Growth issued an early endorsement in a still-developing GOP primary for the right to challenge freshman Rep. Harry Mitchell (R-Ariz.).

They endorsed Maricopa County Treasurer Dave Schweikert, who is facing four other announced candidates for the September primary. His leading primary rival is poised to be former state Rep. Laura Knaperek. State Rep. Mark Anderson and lobbyist Jim Ogsbury have also announced their candidacies.

The Club cited his role, when he served in the state legislature, in passing across-the-board personal and corporate income tax cuts. The group's release does not reference any of his primary opponents.

“It is clear that David Schweikert is a tireless defender of taxpayers who will continue to fight for taxpayers in the U.S. Congress,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey in a statement.

The Scottsdale-based district leans Republican, giving President Bush 54 percent of the vote in 2004. Mitchell ousted ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth, winning 50 percent of the vote last year.

The Club for Growth has been off to a slow start this election cycle, with two if its endorsed candidates losing in competitive GOP nomination battles.

In Ohio’s 5th District, Club-backed candidate state Sen. Steve Buehrer lost to state Rep. Bob Latta in this month’s GOP special election primary. And activist Paul Jost, who headed the Virginia chapter of the Club for Growth, narrowly lost the GOP nomination to succeed the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.) to state Del. Rob Wittman.