Former Air Force pilot and 5th generation military officer, Colonel Wendy Rogers, has announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination to Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. Speaking before supporters and the press in Sedona, home of Democrat Representative Tom O’Halleran, Rogers affirmed her devotion to the people of the 1st District, and invoked President Trump as she stated; ‘our district voted for Donald Trump, who is turning things around…Congress must be filled with public servants who will support our President.’ Following a previous run for the Republican nomination to Congress in 2016, in which she raised $485,000, Rogers has built a solid base amongst 1st District conservatives and is ready to go all in to serve the people of Arizona in Washington.
Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, which encompasses over 58,000 square miles (an area larger than that of 30 states), is the state’s largest Congressional District, and has historically voted Republican in both national and state-level elections, most recently voting in favor of President Trump in 2016, despite also sending a Democrat to Congress. Previously represented by now-Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, the 1st District has elected four different Congressmen and women since 2009, only one of which was a Republican, reflecting both ever-changing demographics due to redistricting, and an emerging ‘purple’ voting pattern in the region.
The reputation of the 1st District’s current representative in Washington, Tom O’Halleran, has soured with constituents since his inauguration, as his party has acted as a roadblock to the legislative process on Capitol Hill, making a heavy push against border security, and in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens, two issues which greatly impact the 1st District. Colonel Rogers cited these two issues at length in her declaration of candidacy, as she emphatically stated that ‘illegal immigration remains a national security threat,’ and expressed her support for President Trump’s plans to construct a wall along our nation’s southern border.
In addition to border security, Rogers spoke of the strain Obamacare has put on American families, vowing to help repeal the bill once and for all. She echoed the sentiments of many Americans who feel our way of life and national identity are under attack, and promised to defend Americans’ 2nd Amendment rights, and to support those who are willing to give their lives to protect the freedoms we cherish. ‘I swore my life’s oath to secure the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic’ she said. ‘I will do it again as your Congresswoman.’
Colonel Rogers’ candidacy adds yet another name to the ever-growing list of ‘Trump Caucus’ members, a nationwide group of grassroots conservatives and supporters of the President, who are running for Congress in 2018. In closing her speech, Rogers reflected on the reasons behind her run for office, telling the crowd, ‘I run for the same reasons I joined the Air Force-to serve my country, and to fight for our way of life and the ideals we hold so dear.’