Democrats Hold Giffords's House Seat

Democrat Ron Barber defeated Republican Jesse Kelly yesterday in Arizona’s special election for the House seat formerly held by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Barber received 52 percent of the vote—to Kelly’s 45 percent—and will serve out the remainder of Giffords’s term, before coming up for reelection in November.

Particular national implications are often difficult to interpret from congressional special elections, and this one seems specifically unique since it’s a result of an alleged assassination attempt on Giffords, which left her critically injured and killed six.