Will Recovering Congresswoman Gabby Giffords Replace Retiring Senator Kyl?

Arizona 's Senator Jon Kyl announced in a press conference on February 10 that he would be retiring at the end of his current term. The Republican senator is currently serving his third term, and reports are that he would likely win a fourth if he chose to run. Senator Kyl will be 70 when he retires from office.

Upon the news release of his impending announcement, several names were mentioned by various media outlets as possible contenders, including the quickly recovering Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D).

Giffords was shot during a constituent meeting in January, and is making what many are calling a miraculous recovery. Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, has agreed to command the Endeavor's last scheduled flight in April, as previously scheduled, because her recovery is going so well and he feels the support of those around them to do so. He is hopeful, based upon her progress and reports from doctors, that his wife will be well enough to be present at the launch.

Other names being floated as candidates for Kyl's seat include Representative Jeff Flake (R) and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (D) who is a former governor of the state. Whoever opts to run for the seat will have big shoes to fill, with TIME calling him "one of [the GOP's] toughest cross-aisle knife fighters."

However, his retirement also opens the door for a Democrat to win the seat. Widespread public affection for Congresswoman Giffords could give her an easy win should she opt to run for the seat.

Sources:

Arizona Senator Jon Kyl to Retire. Trish Turner. February 10, 2011. Fox News.http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/02/10/arizona-senator-jon-kyl-retire

Kyl Retiring. Massimo Calabresi. February 10, 2011. TIME: Swampland. http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/02/10/kyl-retiring/

Gifford's Husband to Command Space Shuttle Flight. February 8, 2011. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/08/us-space-shuttle-kelly-idUSTRE7135CC20110208