Gay US House Candidate Matt Heinz Wins AZ Primary

Arizona Public Media reports:

Former legislator Matt Heinz won the Democratic primary election in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District Tuesday and will challenge incumbent Republican Martha McSally. With nearly half the votes counted, Heinz led Victoria Steele, another former legislator, 53 percent to 47 percent.

In comments at a Democratic victory party, Heinz set the agenda for his campaign. “Martha McSally has voted multiple times against funding Planned Parenthood, or has voted multiple times against equal pay for women or voted against protecting LGBT people in the workplace,” Heinz said. “Those are not the values that are consistent with Southern Arizona.”

McSally, who won her seat two years ago by 167 votes after a recount, said she is ready for the challenge this time, because she has something to run on.

Heinz, a physician, is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Rep. Jared Polis, and a long list of medical groups.

RELATED: Back in 2012 when he was an Arizona state rep, Heinz was subject of a heated debate here on JMG after homocon Sheriff Paul Babeu, who just won his own US House primary, was revealed as having “slept over” at the home of Heinz and his boyfriend. Heinz later broke ranks with state Democrats and voted to grant Babeu’s office $1.7M for border security. The Village Voice investigated the controversy.