This district had been represented by Republican Rick Renzi since 2003. In August 2007, Renzi announced he would not seek re-election,Arizona's Rep. Rick Renzi to retire Associated Press August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2007. four months after the FBI raided Renzi's family business as part of a federal investigation. Renzi received only 52% of the vote compared to 44% for his Democratic opponent – Sedona civil rights attorney Ellen Simon – in 2006; George W. Bush won 54% of the vote in this northern Arizona district in 2004.
