After more than six years as mayor of Phoenix, Greg Stanton will resign at noon on Tuesday, May 29, in order to kick off his race to represent Arizona's 9th Congressional District.
The Arizona Republic reported Stanton's impending resignation date, along with a copy of Stanton's resignation letter to the city clerk.
“Our city is in strong shape and I am proud that we have put Phoenix on the most positive trajectory of any large city in America,” Stanton said in the letter.
The move kicks off a domino effect at City Hall, where two of Stanton's fellow council members are vying to replace him. Councilwoman Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela have both said they intend to run for mayor, and as a result must also resign their council seats.
In the immediate future, Stanton's resignation means that Vice Mayor Thelda Williams becomes mayor pro tempore. A City Council veteran who represents District 1 in north Phoenix, Williams previously served as interim mayor in 1994.
The remaining council members will have to elect one of their own as interim mayor, who will serve until the mayoral election in November.
The Council members who want to replace Stanton have 10 days to declare their candidacy after May 29.
Under the state's resign-to-run law, Stanton had to leave the mayor's office by May 30 in order to throw his name in the ring for the open congressional seat in the 9th District. The incumbent Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, is running for Senate.
Stanton said that he would run for Congress in October, soon after Sinema announced that she would run for retiring Senator Jeff Flake's seat. Because Stanton waited until this week to resign, instead of resigning sometime in the last few months, the mayoral election will take place during the general election in November.
“I have confidence that with the ongoing leadership of the Phoenix City Council and City Manager Ed Zuercher, Phoenix will continue on its positive path,” Stanton said in the letter.