A month ago, Flake said he expected Arizona's voters would be able to discern between the immigration reforms he had championed with Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and "amnesty."

Arizona congressman Jeff Flake is moving further away from his previous push for comprehensive immigration reform as conservative Rep. Trent Franks nears a self-imposed deadline to join Flake in running for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Last month, the Club for Growth was quick to pick sides in the race to replace Kyl, endorsing Flake the same day he announced his candidacy.

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Yellow Sheet Report editor Jim Small talks about the developing race to replace U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl.

Joe Arpaio, the Arizona sheriff known for his hard-line stance on crime and tough enforcement of immigration laws, doused speculation that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jon Kyl, saying Friday that he doesn't plan on going to Washington.

Matt Salmon said he is seriously considering launching a bid for Kyl's seat and has begun making calls to gauge support.

Flake sharply criticized Republican "birthers" yesterday on CNN, saying they would be better served focusing on the tangible differences between the GOP and the Obama administration than getting wrapped up in the seemingly never-ending debate about the president's citizenship.

Another domino from Sen. Jon Kyl’s retirement announcement last week fell Feb. 17, as former state Senate Majority Leader Chuck Gray announced he is running for Congress to replace Jeff Flake, who on Feb. 14 said he is entering the Senate race.

Chuck Gray will be announcing his candidacy for Congress tomorrow afternoon at a Capitol press conference.