John Shadegg Will Run For Re-Election After All
Reversing a decision he announced two weeks ago, Arizona Congressman John Shaddegg has announced that he will run for re-election in November:
Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), who abruptly announced his retirement just 10 days ago, has changed his mind and will be running for reelection in his Phoenix-area congressional district.
Shadegg, who unsuccessfully sought the Republicans’ top House leadership post in 2006, has been one of the leading conservative voices in Congress. After he announced his intention to retire, 146 House Republicans signed a letter last Thursday urging him to reconsider his decision — advice which he accepted.
”My decision was made after deep reflection and consultation with my family. It was entirely a personal decision between me and my family. The reactions of my constituents and my friends now suggest there were implications far broader than we had contemplated,” Shadegg said in a statement released this evening.
“In deciding to leave Congress, I felt I could serve my country and continue to wage the battle for conservative principles just as effectively in private life. It turns out many others believe that would be a mistake.”
Oh the whole, this is good news. Shadegg is a solid fiscal conservative and was one of the few Republican voices dissenting from the spending practices of the party when it held power in Congress.
Shadegg may not be in Congress for long though; word on the Hill is that he will run for John McCain’s Senate seat if McCain is elected President.
