After redistricting , most of 2nd district was composed of land previously located in the 8th district and was thus more favorable to Democrats . Democrat Gabrielle Giffords , who had represented the 8th district since 2007 , was seriously wounded in a mass shooting in January 2011 and resigned her congressional seat in January 2012 . A special election was held in June 2012 under the boundaries of the then current 8th district , with a primary election held in April 2012 ; in November 2012 another election took place under the new boundaries of the 2nd district , with a primary scheduled for August 2012
mass shooting
2011 Tucson shooting
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona