Gabrielle Giffords may not be running for Congress, but she’s putting the money from her campaign to use. Her campaign contributed $202,500 to the state Democratic Party’s federal campaign committee.

The contributions through the end of May came during the hotly contested special election for her vacated seat in the 8th Congressional District, a race that saw Democrat Ron Barber, Giffords’ former district office director, defeat Republican Jesse Kelly.

Newly elected Rep. Ron Barber, D-Tucson, was surrounded by extended family Tuesday as he was sworn in to finish out the term of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned in January.

Fifteen legislators have announced this year that they will retire or seek another office rather than run for re-election to the Legislature.

Tea party Republican Jesse Kelly on Thursday dropped out of the race for Gabrielle Giffords’ former seat in Congress, two days after losing a special election to serve out her term.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ hand-picked Democratic candidate won a special election Tuesday in southern Arizona to finish her term, defeating a Republican who narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010.

Republicans are focusing on President Barack Obama, not Gabrielle Giffords, and sensing a chance to capture the former congresswoman’s seat in southern Arizona.

Voters are deciding in Tuesday’s special election whether Republican Jesse Kelly, who narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010, or Democrat Ron Barber, a former Giffords aide asked by the lawmaker to pursue the seat, will complete the remainder of her term.

Gabrielle Giffords will appear at a concert to support the Democrat hoping to be her successor.

Democrat Ron Barber had $390,000 on hand for the remaining two weeks of the campaign to succeed former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, compared to $83,000 for Republican Jesse Kelly, according to new campaign reports.

Political newcomer Nomiki Konst has dropped out of the race for a full term representing former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ southern Arizona congressional district.

The complete list of 2012 candidates running for the U.S Senate and House of Representatives from Arizona.