Garcia drops out of Senate race

Rep. Martha Garcia, a Democrat from Phoenix, has dropped out of the race for the Senate in District 13, leaving Steve Gallardo, a former representative, as the lone candidate for the seat.

The Secretary of State’s website on June 8 listed Garcia as having “withdrawn” from the race.

In an email obtained by the Yellow Sheet Report, Garcia said she discovered discrepancies in the signatures she submitted to qualify for the ballot.

She had relied on volunteers to collect signatures because of health reasons, she said.

“After careful evaluation, I have discovered discrepancies related to the signatures and have decided to voluntarily withdraw my name from the 2010 election,” she said.

Garcia, who joined the House in 2005, would have squared off in the Democratic primary with Gallardo for the seat that Sen. Richard Miranda of Tolleson is vacating.

Miranda can’t run again due to term limits.