This could be a very big get for Democrats if it pans out. Earlier in the week, the New York Times tantalizingly reported that Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton was "believed to be considering a campaign" against Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, one of just a tiny handful of vulnerable Republican senators up for re-election next year. Now the Arizona Republic offers just a little bit more, saying Stanton "is expected to make a decision about his 2018 intentions this summer."
There's no direct quote from Stanton that he's even looking at the race, but the context here is remarks Stanton recently made excoriating the GOP's attempt to repeal Obamacare, which he called "an all-out assault on the people of Arizona." As the top elected official in Arizona's largest city, Stanton already represents about 22 percent of the state, giving him a big perch from which to launch a campaign. He'd also be term limited come 2019, when the mayoralty next goes before voters, so he'd be looking for a new job then anyway. At just 47 years old, even a tough campaign against Flake would make sense, since Stanton's made it evident that he wants to keep moving upward politically.
However, it's also possible that he could be eyeing a bid for governor, something he telegraphed with a speech a few months ago excoriating GOP Gov. Doug Ducey, who, like Flake, is also up for a second term in 2018. This would also be a challenging race for Stanton, but with congressional Republicans intent on fulfilling their suicide pact with Donald Trump, it may be that Flake is looking like the juicier target these days.