NRCC elevates three seeking Giffords's seat

By Josh Lederman - 03/19/12 12:28 PM ET

Three Republicans seeking former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's (D-Ariz.) seat have been boosted to "On the Radar" status by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The benchmark is the second of four steps to the NRCC's Young Guns program to bolster fresh-faced Republican House candidates.

The three includes Jesse Kelly, a former Marine who came close to unseating Giffords in 2010. Retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally and sports broadcaster Dave Sitton round out the list.

"These candidates have worked hard to meet the benchmarks that have been laid out before them and are determined to hold Washington Democrats accountable," NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) said in a statement.

Absent from the list was Arizona state Sen. Frank Antenori, a fourth Republican seeking Giffords's seat. Antenori said it was his choice not to participate in the program.

"I just thought it wasn't necessary," Antenori told The Hill. "We met all the prerequistes, and we determined not to do it in the primary."

Republicans hadn't planned to contest the Tucson, Ariz.-based seat if Giffords ran for reelection. But Giffords stepped down from her seat in January, one year after being critically wounded in a shooting spree in her district.

Democrats have recruited Ron Barber, Giffords's former district director, to run in the special election to replace her, and Giffords promptly endorsed him. Barber has picked up broad support, including from numerous local Republican officials. But Democrats are concerned that without Giffords in the race, Republicans could flip the district, which is competitive for both parties.

A special primary has been scheduled for April 17, followed by a special general election to fill the remainder of Giffords's term. A regular primary and general election will take place later in the year for the full term that starts in January 2013. Those elections will take place under new congressional lines.