Rep. Jeff Flake’s district in Arizona has never been one that the GOP has been particularly worried about; the 6th Congressional District scores an R+15 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index and Flake has won his past five elections with at least 62 percent of the vote. In 2004 and 2006, Democrats couldn’t even find a token candidate to nominate against him.

But with Flake running for the Senate, someone has to represent the eastern suburbs of Phoenix, and a familiar name is stepping forward:

Former Congressman Matt Salmon of Mesa formally announced his candidacy for his old job as a conservative Republican dedicated to reigning in federal spending.
Salmon, a lobbyist in recent years, hopes to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Jay Flake, who is seeking to replace retiring Sen. Jon Kyl.
Salmon served three, two-year terms representing a district that included east Mesa from 1994-2000. Although many other Republicans elected to the U.S. House in 1994 as part of the Contract With America reneged on their term-limit pledge, Salmon followed his word.

By the way, I have no idea why the Arizona Republic called the congressman “Jay Flake.”