Hiral Tipirneni
Personal details
Born (1967-09-28) September 28, 1967
Mumbai, India
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKishore
Children3
EducationYoungstown State University (BS)
Northeast Ohio Medical University (MD)
Websitehiralforcongress.com

Hiral Vyas Tipirneni (/ˈhɪrəl tɪpərˈnɛni/ HEAR-uhl tip-er-NEH-knee; born September 28, 1967) is an Indian-American politician and physician. She worked for 10 years in Phoenix, Arizona area Emergency Departments, is a cancer research advocate,[1] and serves on the board of directors of the Maricopa Health Foundation.[2] In 2018, she was the Democratic nominee for special election for Arizona's 8th congressional district, which was called to fill the congressional seat after former GOP Representative Trent Franks resigned following a sexual misconduct scandal.[3]

Tipirneni won a special primary election on February 27, 2018,[4] and was defeated by Republican nominee Debbie Lesko in the general election on April 24, 2018. However, she managed to lower the Republican margin of victory by over 16 percentage points.[1][5][6] Tipirneni was defeated again in the regular election in November 2018 by an eleven-point margin.[7][8][9]

Tipirneni ran again in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona as the Democratic nominee for Arizona's 6th congressional district, a suburban district that was more Democratic-leaning than Arizona's 8th. She lost to the incumbent David Schweikert with 47.8% of the vote.

Early life and education

Tipirneni was born in Mumbai, India, and in 1971,[10] aged 3, with her parents, immigrated to the United States,[11] and settled in Cleveland, Ohio.[12]

Tipirneni earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University.[2]

Medical career

Following graduation from medical school, Tipirneni became chief resident in the University of Michigan Health System's Emergency Department,[2] and later became a member of the Board of Directors of Maricopa Health Foundation,[13] the fund-raising arm of the Maricopa Integrated Health System.[14]

Electoral history

2018 congressional special election

In August 2017, Tipirneni, a Democrat, announced her candidacy for the congressional seat representing the 8th district then held by Republican Trent Franks.[15] She later entered the race in the special election for Arizona's 8th congressional district, following Franks' resignation amidst numerous claims of sexual misbehavior with female staffers.[3][16] Tipirneni defeated Brianna Westbrook in the special primary election on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.[4]

Democratic primary results[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hiral Tipirneni 21,703 59.6%
Democratic Brianna Westbrook 14,701 40.4%
Total votes 36,404 100.00%

General election

She faced Debbie Lesko in the general election on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.[5][9] Tipirneni has garnered some national support including endorsements from End Citizens United and Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona.[18] However, she has received little support from national Democratic campaign groups.[19] Although a relative newcomer to politics, she has been successful in raising more campaign funds than her opponent and is also outspending Lesko in television ads.[8] A poll published by Emerson College on April 16 had Tipirneni with "a slight lead, 46 percent to 45 percent".[20][21] Another poll published by Lake Research Partners had the candidates tied at 44 to 44.[1]

Tipirneni lost by a relatively small margin in a district that has historically leaned heavily towards her opponent's party. She earned 47.6% of the vote to Lesko's 52.4% in a district that voted for President Donald Trump by a 21% margin.[9][22] Tipirneni planned to run again in the regular elections in November 2018.[8][9][23]

General election results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Debbie Lesko 96,012 52.4%
Democratic Hiral Tipirneni 87,331 47.6%
Total votes 183,343 100.00%

2018 congressional general election

Tipirneni won the otherwise uncontested Democratic primary. She was defeated for a second time by Debbie Lesko, getting 44.5% of the vote to Lesko's 55.5%.

Democratic primary results[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hiral Tipirneni 52,215 100.0
Total votes 52,215 100.0
Arizona's 8th congressional district, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Debbie Lesko (incumbent) 168,835 55.5
Democratic Hiral Tipirneni 135,569 44.5
New Paradigm Party Steven Hummel (write-in) 13 0.0
Total votes 304,417 100.0
Republican hold

2020 congressional general election

Tipirneni won a four-way Democratic primary with 53.2% of the vote. She then lost the general election to the incumbent David Schweikert, getting 47.8% of the vote to Schweikert's 52.2%.

After election night, Tipirneni sent out a fundraising email asking for funds to ensure her supporters' votes were counted, drawing widespread criticism that she was attempting to undermine faith in the election, and comparisons to Martha McSally and Donald Trump.[26][27]

Democratic primary results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hiral Tipirneni 42,538 53.2
Democratic Anita Malik 29,218 36.5
Democratic Stephanie Rimmer 4,592 5.7
Democratic Karl Gentles 3,651 4.6
Total votes 79,999 100.0
Arizona's 6th congressional district[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Schweikert (incumbent) 217,783 52.2
Democratic Hiral Tipirneni 199,644 47.8
Total votes 417,427 100.0
Republican hold

Political positions

Her campaign has focused on issues related to health care, education, and retirement security, and emphasizes her "data-driven approach" to public policy.[30] Tipirneni also advocates for "commonsense" gun control measures, comprehensive immigration reform, and a public health insurance option.[31] Tipirneni also agrees that Americans have the Second Amendment right to purchase firearms legally in order "to protect their homes, themselves and their families, and for hunting and sport".[13]

Personal life

Hiral met her husband Kishore Tipirneni during the first year of medical school.[12] They have two daughters and a son.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Golshan, Tara (April 20, 2018). "Arizona's tightening House special election in a deep-red district, explained". Vox. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (March 12, 2018). "Who is Hiral Tipirneni? What to know about the Arizona congressional candidate". Fox News. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Ronald J., Hansen (April 10, 2018). "Replacing Trent Franks: GOP nervous even in heavily Republican Arizona district". USA Today. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Nowicki, Dan; Hansen, Ronald J. (February 27, 2018). "Hiral Tipirneni defeats Brianna Westbrook in Democratic Congressional District 8 primary". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Tures, John A. (April 21, 2018). "Republicans Should Be Panicking About the Blue Surge in the Suburbs". Observer. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  6. ↑ Hansen, Ronald J. (April 24, 2018). "Debbie Lesko keeps Arizona 8th in GOP hands in special election". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "2018 Arizona general election results" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 J.D. (April 19, 2018). "Hiral Tipirneni is unlikely to win a special congressional election in Arizona". The Economist. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "GOP unsettled by narrow win in US House race in Arizona". Associated Press. April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Dillingham, Jared (February 20, 2018). "CD 8 special election: Get to know Hiral Tipirneni". KPHO-TV. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  11. ↑ Press Trust of India (April 12, 2018). "Democrats get behind Indian American Hiral Tipirneni for Arizona Cong seat". Business Standard India. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Haniffa, Aziz (March 3, 2018). "From ER Physician to Capitol Hill Hopeful". India Abroad. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  13. 1 2 Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (April 23, 2018). "Arizona special election features Debbie Lesko, Hiral Tipirneni: What to know about the race". Fox News. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  14. ↑ Staahl, Derek (June 21, 2017). "Komen Arizona to halt operations; Phoenix Race for the Cure canceled". KPHO-TV. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  15. ↑ Press Trust of India (August 18, 2017). "Indian-American physician announces Congressional bid". The Times of India. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  16. ↑ Watson, Kathryn (December 8, 2017). "Trent Franks makes resignation immediate; AP says he offered staffer $5 million to carry his child". Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  17. ↑ Lee, Jasmine; Bloch, Matthew (February 28, 2018). "Arizona Special Primary Election Results: Eighth House District". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  18. ↑ Schneider, Elena; Isenstadt, Alex (March 27, 2018). "GOP scrambles to avert another election dumpster fire". Politico. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  19. ↑ Jasper, Brett (April 20, 2018). "After Special Election Upsets, GOP Takes Nothing For Granted In Arizona Race". NPR. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  20. ↑ Defazio, Joe (April 16, 2018). "A new poll says Democrat and Republican in "dead heat" in Arizona special election where Trump won big". Newsweek. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  21. ↑ Kilgore, Ed (April 16, 2018). "New Arizona Poll Shows Another Special Election Upset a Possibility". Daily Intelligencer. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  22. ↑ Phillips, Amber (April 25, 2018). "Democrats didn't win in Arizona, but here's why they're celebrating anyway". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  23. ↑ Epstein, Reid J.; Peterson, Kristina (April 25, 2018). "Slim GOP Win in Arizona Invigorates Democrats". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Congressional District 8 Special Election: Who Voted and How". North Phoenix News. May 22, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  25. ↑ "2018 Arizona primary election results" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  26. ↑ Roberts, Laurie (November 5, 2020). "Donate to Hiral Tipirneni, or her votes won't be counted? That's ridiculous". azcentral. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  27. ↑ Díaz, Elvia (November 6, 2020). "Why Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni are Arizona's biggest losers". azcentral. Retrieved November 30, 2020. Democrat Tipirneni has lost to Republican incumbent David Schweikert in Arizona's 6th Congressional District. And she'll be remembered as the wacky Democrat who joined Trump's conspiracy theories that somehow election workers are cheating them out of votes.
  28. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass - 2020 Primary Election" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Arizona Election Results: Sixth Congressional District". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  30. ↑ Marans, Daniel (April 17, 2018). "Republicans Are Scrambling To Save An Arizona House Seat In GOP Territory". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  31. ↑ Gambino, Lauren (April 3, 2018). "Democrats see glimmer of hope in land of Sheriff Joe Arpaio before special vote". The Guardian. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
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