Gabrielle Giffords’ gun-control group plans big spend 

Gun Rights

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The gun-control organization led by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is planning to spend big in an effort to oust the Republican in the area she once represented.

The group, known as Giffords, will spend over $1.2 million on TV ads against U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., in a reminder of the organization’s financial heft.

In a statement, the former congresswoman said the “common sense of our people” makes clear that gun transactions need more scrutiny.

“What I’ve come to know over a lifetime here is that our state is fiercely independent, has a proud tradition of gun ownership, and … that the only people who benefit from a world with fewer background checks are those who wouldn’t pass one,” Giffords said.

“In 2024, we have seen at least 50 school shootings nationwide, and Americans are demanding change. Congressman Ciscomani’s views on the issue are out of step with Arizonans, so we had to get involved – the safety of our schools and communities is just too important.”

Giffords, who is married to U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., made a celebrated recovery after a gunman shot her in the head in a 2011 massacre outside Tucson that killed six and wounded 12 others.

Ciscomani, who was first elected to Congress in 2022, is endorsed by the National Rifle Association, the nation’s leading gun rights group. 

Ciscomani aide Daniel Scarpinato wrote that there is “wall-to-wall advertising in Southern Arizona right now” and Arizonans “simply cannot afford” Democrat Kirsten Engel’s “out-of-touch agenda.”

Former state Sen. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, is in a pricey rematch with Ciscomani.

The district covers most of Tucson and surrounding Pima County, as well as Cochise County. It is one of the most competitive districts in the country. Two years ago, Ciscomani won by about 5,200 votes in a race in which Engel received little support from national Democrats.

That has changed in this year’s race.

In September, the Ciscomani-Engel rematch drew the 11th most spending in the 435-seat House, CNN reported. It ranks 16th in the country for ad spending reserved for the rest of the race.

The GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund has poured at least $3.2 million into the race, according to figures from the Federal Election Commission. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the House Majority PAC have spent a combined $2.9 million to help Engel win.

Giffords acknowledged the importance of the race for the overall complexion of the House next year.

“It’s hard to overstate the impact this election will have not just on Arizona, but the entire country — on preventing gun violence, yes, but also other intensely personal issues like abortion and fertility treatments,” she said. “That’s why I’m going to spend the next few weeks working overtime to support (Vice President) Kamala Harris and Kirsten Engel.”

Giffords seems to be more assertive in national politics and in Arizona this year than she has in the 13 years since she survived the near-fatal gunshot.

She has, for example, condemned political violence when former President Donald Trump was grazed by an assassin’s bullet in July and said it was “disgraceful” when Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, referred to Democrats as “childless cat ladies” in comments that resurfaced this year.

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