/ Modified feb 22, 2017 4:54 p.m.

Running for Federal Office? You May Have to Choose Just One

Arizona bill would limit candidates, with the exception of president or vice president hopefuls.

Vote Here street sign tucson hero A sign indicating a polling place in Tucson.
AZPM

Clair Van Steenwyk may be the last person to run for two offices at once in Arizona as Senate Bill 1200 would ban candidates from running for two federal offices at the same time.

During last year’s primary election, Van Steenwyk ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate and a Republican primary for U.S. Congress. At the time, no law prevented him from doing so.

SB 1200 does carve out one exception to running for two offices.

“We certainly wouldn’t want an Arizona representative or senator to have to resign their office to honor Arizona by becoming president or vice president,” said Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who is sponsoring the bill.

Other limits in the bill would stop candidates from switching parties once they’ve announced their candidacy for office.

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