Hiral Tipirneni
{{Short description|American physician and politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Hiral Tipirneni
|image = Hiral Tipirneni by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|09|28}}
|spouse = Kishore
|children = 3
|party = Democratic
|education = Youngstown State University (BS)
Northeast Ohio Medical University (MD)
|website={{URL|hiralforcongress.com}}}}
Hiral Vyas Tipirneni ({{IPAc-en|'|h|ɪ|r|ə|l|_|t|ɪ|p|ɚ|'|n|ɛ|n|i}} {{Respell|HEAR|uhl|_|tip|er|NEH|knee}}; born September 28, 1967) is an Indian-American politician and physician. She worked for a decade in Phoenix, Arizona, area emergency departments, is a cancer research advocate,{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/4/16/17176258/arizona-special-election-trent-franks-hiral-lesko|title=Arizona's tightening House special election in a deep-red district, explained|last=Golshan|first=Tara|date=April 20, 2018|work=Vox|access-date=April 23, 2018}} and serves on the board of directors of the Maricopa Health Foundation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/who-is-hiral-tipirneni-what-to-know-about-the-arizona-congressional-candidate/|title=Who is Hiral Tipirneni? What to know about the Arizona congressional candidate|last=Schallhorn|first=Kaitlyn|date=March 12, 2018|work=Fox News|access-date=March 15, 2018|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/10/replacing-trent-franks-gop-nervous-even-heavily-republican-arizona-district/500743002/|title=Replacing Trent Franks: GOP nervous even in heavily Republican Arizona district|last=Ronald J.|first=Hansen|date=April 10, 2018|work=USA Today|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en}}
Tipirneni won a special primary election on February 27, 2018,{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/02/28/arizona-democratic-primary-election-results-congressional-district-8/375959002/|title=Hiral Tipirneni defeats Brianna Westbrook in Democratic Congressional District 8 primary|last1=Nowicki|first1=Dan|date=February 27, 2018|work=The Arizona Republic|access-date=April 22, 2018|last2=Hansen|first2=Ronald J.|language=en}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://observer.com/2018/04/polls-show-dr-tipirneni-surpassed-lesko-in-arizona-special-election/|title=Republicans Should Be Panicking About the Blue Surge in the Suburbs|last=Tures|first=John A.|date=April 21, 2018|work=Observer|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/24/debbie-lesko-keeps-arizona-8th-gop-hands-special-election/548689002/|title=Debbie Lesko keeps Arizona 8th in GOP hands in special election|last=Hansen|first=Ronald J.|date=April 24, 2018|work=USA Today|access-date=April 25, 2018|language=en}} Tipirneni was defeated again in the regular election in November 2018 by an eleven-point margin.{{cite web|title=2018 Arizona general election results|url=https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/2018%201203%20Signed%20Official%20Statewide%20Canvass.pdf|website=Arizona Secretary of State|accessdate=June 9, 2019|archive-date=December 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207054635/https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/2018%201203%20Signed%20Official%20Statewide%20Canvass.pdf|url-status=dead}}
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,{{Cite news|url=http://www.azfamily.com/story/37550490/cd-8-special-election-get-to-know-hiral-tipirneni|title=CD 8 special election: Get to know Hiral Tipirneni|last=Dillingham|first=Jared|date=Feb 20, 2018|work=KPHO-TV|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907150445/http://www.azfamily.com/story/37550490/cd-8-special-election-get-to-know-hiral-tipirneni|url-status=dead}} aged 3, with her parents, immigrated to the United States,{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/democrats-get-behind-indian-american-hiral-tipirneni-for-arizona-cong-seat-118041200248_1.html|title=Democrats get behind Indian American Hiral Tipirneni for Arizona Cong seat|last=Press Trust of India|date=April 12, 2018|work=Business Standard India|access-date=April 22, 2018}} and settled in Cleveland, Ohio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiaabroad.com/from-er-physician-to-capitol-hill-hopeful/article_a8cd3dfe-1193-5aa8-96e7-79344d0b4026.html|title=From ER Physician to Capitol Hill Hopeful|last=Haniffa|first=Aziz|date=March 3, 2018|work=India Abroad|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213033812/https://www.indiaabroad.com/from-er-physician-to-capitol-hill-hopeful/article_a8cd3dfe-1193-5aa8-96e7-79344d0b4026.html|url-status=dead}}
Tipirneni earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University.
Medical career
Following graduation from medical school, Tipirneni became chief resident in the University of Michigan Health System's Emergency Department, and later became a member of the Board of Directors of Maricopa Health Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the Maricopa Integrated Health System.{{Cite news|url=http://www.azfamily.com/story/35720037/komen-arizona-to-halt-operations-phoenix-race-for-the-cure-canceled|title=Komen Arizona to halt operations; Phoenix Race for the Cure canceled|last=Staahl|first=Derek|date=June 21, 2017|work=KPHO-TV|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en}}
Electoral history
= 2018 congressional special election =
{{Main|2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district 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.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/us-canada-news/indian-american-physician-announces-congressional-bid/articleshow/60113878.cms|title=Indian-American physician announces Congressional bid|last=Press Trust of India|date=August 18, 2017|work=The Times of India|access-date=April 22, 2018}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trent-franks-makes-resignation-immediate/|title=Trent Franks makes resignation immediate; AP says he offered staffer $5 million to carry his child|last=Watson|first=Kathryn|date=December 8, 2017|access-date=December 8, 2017|language=en-US}} Tipirneni defeated Brianna Westbrook in the special primary election on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Jasmine|last2=Bloch|first2=Matthew|title=Arizona Special Primary Election Results: Eighth House District|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/arizona-house-special-election-primary|accessdate=April 17, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=February 28, 2018}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Hiral Tipirneni
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 21,703
| percentage = 59.6%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brianna Westbrook
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 14,701
| percentage = 40.4%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 36,404
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
== General election ==
She faced Debbie Lesko in the general election on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://elections.ap.org/content/gop-unsettled-narrow-win-us-house-race-arizona|title=GOP unsettled by narrow win in US House race in Arizona|date=April 25, 2018|agency=Associated Press|access-date=April 25, 2018|language=en-US}} Tipirneni has garnered some national support including endorsements from End Citizens United and Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/27/arizona-special-election-republicans-485678|title=GOP scrambles to avert another election dumpster fire|last1=Schneider|first1=Elena|date=March 27, 2018|work=Politico|access-date=April 22, 2018|last2=Isenstadt|first2=Alex}} However, she has received little support from national Democratic campaign groups.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/04/20/603632677/after-special-election-upsets-gop-takes-nothing-for-granted-in-arizona-race|title=After Special Election Upsets, GOP Takes Nothing For Granted In Arizona Race|last=Jasper|first=Brett|date=April 20, 2018|work=NPR|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en}} 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. A poll published by Emerson College on April 16 had Tipirneni with "a slight lead, 46 percent to 45 percent".{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/hiral-tipirneni-debbie-lesko-conor-lamb-donald-trump-887807|title=A new poll says Democrat and Republican in "dead heat" in Arizona special election where Trump won big|last=Defazio|first=Joe|date=April 16, 2018|work=Newsweek|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/04/new-az-poll-shows-another-special-election-upset-is-possible.html|title=New Arizona Poll Shows Another Special Election Upset a Possibility|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=April 16, 2018|work=Daily Intelligencer|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en-US}} Another poll published by Lake Research Partners had the candidates tied at 44 to 44.
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/04/25/democrats-didnt-win-in-arizona-but-heres-why-theyre-celebrating-anyway/|title=Democrats didn't win in Arizona, but here's why they're celebrating anyway|last=Phillips|first=Amber|date=April 25, 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=April 25, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} Tipirneni planned to run again in the regular elections in November 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2018/04/mind-gap|title=Hiral Tipirneni is unlikely to win a special congressional election in Arizona|last=J.D.|date=April 19, 2018|newspaper=The Economist|language=en|access-date=April 22, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/slim-gop-win-in-arizona-invigorates-democrats-1524687677|title=Slim GOP Win in Arizona Invigorates Democrats|last1=Epstein|first1=Reid J.|date=April 25, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 25, 2018|last2=Peterson|first2=Kristina|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}{{Election box begin no change|title=General election results{{Cite news|url=http://nophonews.com/congressional-district-8-special-election-who-voted-and-how/|title=Congressional District 8 Special Election: Who Voted and How|date=May 22, 2018|work=North Phoenix News|access-date=June 2, 2018|language=en-US}}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Debbie Lesko|votes=96,012|percentage=52.4%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Hiral Tipirneni|votes=87,331|percentage=47.6%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=183,343|percentage=100.00%}}
{{Election box end}}
=2018 congressional general election=
{{main|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}
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%.
{{Election box begin no change | title=Democratic primary results{{cite web|title=2018 Arizona primary election results|url=https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/2018%200910%20Signed%20Statewide%20Canvass.pdf|website=Arizona Secretary of State|accessdate=June 9, 2019|archive-date=September 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912091917/https://azsos.gov/sites/default/files/2018%200910%20Signed%20Statewide%20Canvass.pdf|url-status=dead}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Hiral Tipirneni
|votes = 52,215
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 52,215
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=Arizona's 8th congressional district, 2018}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Debbie Lesko (incumbent)
|votes = 168,835
|percentage = 55.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Hiral Tipirneni
|votes = 135,569
|percentage = 44.5
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party = New Paradigm Party
|candidate = Steven Hummel (write-in)
|votes = 13
|percentage = 0.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 304,417
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2020 congressional general election=
{{main|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 6}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Laurie |date=November 5, 2020 |title=Donate to Hiral Tipirneni, or her votes won't be counted? That's ridiculous |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2020/11/05/hiral-tipirneni-suggests-votes-wont-counted-unless-you-donate/6182168002/ |access-date=November 30, 2020 |website=azcentral}}{{cite web |last1=Díaz |first1=Elvia |date=November 6, 2020 |title=Why Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni are Arizona's biggest losers |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/elviadiaz/2020/11/06/why-martha-mcsally-and-hiral-tipirneni-arizona-biggest-losers/6193415002/ |access-date=November 30, 2020 |website=azcentral |quote=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.}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Hiral Tipirneni
|votes = 42,538
|percentage = 53.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Anita Malik
|votes = 29,218
|percentage = 36.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Stephanie Rimmer
|votes = 4,592
|percentage = 5.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Karl Gentles
|votes = 3,651
|percentage = 4.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 79,999
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title=Arizona's 6th congressional district{{cite news |title=Arizona Election Results: Sixth Congressional District |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-arizona-house-district-6.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=November 30, 2020}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = David Schweikert (incumbent)
|votes = 217,783
|percentage = 52.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Hiral Tipirneni
|votes = 199,644
|percentage = 47.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 417,427
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hiral-tipirneni-arizona-special-election_us_5ad53893e4b077c89cebd984|title=Republicans Are Scrambling To Save An Arizona House Seat In GOP Territory|last=Marans|first=Daniel|date=April 17, 2018|work=Huffington Post|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en-US}} Tipirneni also advocates for "commonsense" gun control measures, comprehensive immigration reform, and a public health insurance option.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/03/democrats-arizona-special-election-hiral-tipirneni|title=Democrats see glimmer of hope in land of Sheriff Joe Arpaio before special vote|last=Gambino|first=Lauren|date=April 3, 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=April 22, 2018}} 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".{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-special-election-features-debbie-lesko-hiral-tipirneni-what-to-know-about-the-race/|title=Arizona special election features Debbie Lesko, Hiral Tipirneni: What to know about the race|last=Schallhorn|first=Kaitlyn|date=April 23, 2018|work=Fox News|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en-US}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|hiralforcongress.com}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tipirneni, Hiral}}
Category:21st-century American physicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:American politicians of Indian descent
Category:Asian-American people in Arizona politics
Category:Emergency medical technicians
Category:Medical doctors from Mumbai
Category:Politicians from Mumbai
Category:Women in Arizona politics
Category:Youngstown State University alumni
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections