Christine Jones’ monopoly on the television ad war in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District has propelled her into frontrunner status, but as early ballots landed in voters’ mailboxes, a new voice hit the airwaves to challenge her.

Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs’ decision to run for Congress has had a domino effect in Legislative District 12, as Republicans scramble to fill the Senate seat left vacate by the 14-year lawmaker.

Biggs is the first to attack in CD5

Biggs, Townsend spar during district meeting

The campaign coffers of all four Republicans vying for their party’s nomination in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District are swelling with the candidates’ personal funds.

After 14 years as a state legislator, Senate President Andy Biggs won’t be returning to the Capitol next January, and instead seeks higher office in Congress. The Gilbert Republican has much to reflect on after another chaotic session and years in the Legislature, where he went from a stubborn no-voter in the House to the leader of a Senate chamber that’s grown more conservative over the past decade.

The Arizona Senate has rejected a measure for the second week in a row that would have allowed the state to vote on bills blocking authorities from enforcing or financing any federal action not affirmed by Congress.

Stymied by the Senate president, supporters of restoring health insurance to the children of the working poor are hoping to apply some very visible public pressure.

Senate President Andy Biggs wants to introduce a budget as early as next week, but House Republicans fear their chamber isn’t keeping up the pace, and House priorities could end up once again trampled in the Senate’s budget stampede.

Education groups are pushing for a delay in “current-year funding,” saying a perfect storm is taking shape that could lead to chaos and disorder in the public school system.