As 2012 comes to a close, some Arizona politicos have reached new heights of prominence and power. Others saw once-promising careers hit the wall.

Jeff Flake and Kyrsten Sinema gained influence and stature in the nation’s capital, while Andy Biggs reached the pinnacle of power in the Arizona Senate.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Russell Pearce and his successor, Sen. Steve Pierce, fell from grace, while a slew of Republican candidates once again failed in their bids to reach the halls of Congress.

The special election to fill the seat of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is likely to cost Arizona taxpayers $3 million.

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.

Perhaps the biggest Republican victor last night was Martha McSally, considering that Kelly has now lost twice in CD8 and expressed uncertainty last night about whether he will stay on the ballot for the new Dem-leaning CD2. He told supporters last night that “only God knows” what his future holds and that, while he “most likely” will run in the new district, he would take a few days to consider his options.

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.

Democrats are hoping that late campaign appearances by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will help push her hand-picked successor to victory in a special congressional election in Arizona.

Republicans, trying to make the southern Arizona House race a referendum on President Barack Obama and his handling of the economy, are running a former Marine who narrowly lost to Giffords two years ago.

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

Democrats are slamming 8th Congressional District Republican candidate Jesse Kelly for what they say are major changes in his stance on privatizing Social Security and Medicare designed to woo seniors turned off by his previous positions.

TUCSON a�� Voter turnout was 28 percent for the special primary election in Arizona's 8th Congressional District. Election results from the Secretary of State's office shows less than 117,000 ballots were cast Tuesday in the district's 352 precincts.

It was pretty clear that Kelly buttoned up yesterday’s primary as soon as the first results were made public, but the breakdown of the vote tells a more nuanced story. Early ballots have become a key for successful campaigns, and yesterday’s numbers show just how difficult it can be to mount a come-from-behind victory in the era of early voting.