As we predicted in this week's Skinny column, Arizona House Speaker Andy Tobin announced today that he wants to challenge Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick in Congressional District 1.

Tobin, who lives near but not in CD1, blamed Kirkpatrick for the ongoing government shutdown—and in particular, for the current "closed" sign at the Grand Canyon.

“There could be no harsher reminder of why we need new leadership in Washington,” Tobin said in a press release. “Arizona is under attack by the federal government, and Ann Kirkpatrick is part of the problem. Kirkpatrick is so committed to protecting ObamaCare and supporting Nancy Pelosi, she has literally voted to shut down the Grand Canyon.”

Tobin said he was "just sick of Washington, D.C."

To save you the trouble of clicking the link to the Skinny, here's what we wrote this week:

The Skinny hears that House Speaker Andy Tobin is getting closer to announcing a run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Congressional District 1, the sprawling rural district that stretches from Oro Valley across the eastern half of the state and takes in Flagstaff, as well as several of the state's Native American reservations.

Tobin's entrance into the race is likely to be bad news for state Rep. Adam Kwasman, who announced his own plans to run for the seat earlier this year.

Tobin has had a longer political career (Kwasman was only elected to the state House in 2012) and would probably have an easier time raising money.

But both state lawmakers have to deal with a wild card: Rancher and oilman Gary Kiehne, who announced his plans to run last month. Kiehne is a political newcomer, but we hear he has deep pockets and can self-fund a campaign.

CD1 is now represented by Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, who won a close race against Republican Jonathan Paton last year. While the district has Democratic edge, some of those Democrats are conservative rural types who might cross over for the right GOP candidate, so it's a competitive district.

Here's the press release from Team Tobin:

Arizona House Speaker Andy Tobin announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress today, calling out Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick for voting to close down the Grand Canyon this week in order to protect ObamaCare (H.J. Res. 70, Oct. 1, 2013). The vote is just another example, Tobin said, of Washington’s assault on Arizona.

“There could be no harsher reminder of why we need new leadership in Washington,” Tobin said. “Arizona is under attack by the federal government, and Ann Kirkpatrick is part of the problem. Kirkpatrick is so committed to protecting ObamaCare and supporting Nancy Pelosi, she has literally voted to shut down the Grand Canyon.”

Tobin’s remarks came as he announced his candidacy for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, launched www.AndyTobin.com and released a web video. Tobin plans to continue visiting every corner of the vast district in the days, weeks and months ahead.

“The truth is, I’m just sick of Washington, D.C.,” Tobin said. “From ObamaCare to over regulation of our small businesses and our lives, it’s clear that President Obama and Ann Kirkpatrick are totally out-of-touch with rural Arizonans. In Congress, I’ll stand for the same conservative principles I always have and fight back against Washington’s assault on our state.”

ABOUT ANDY TOBIN:

Andy Tobin is a dad, husband and small business owner who has devoted his life to job creation, public service and advocating for conservative principles. Tobin has built successful careers in the real estate, banking and insurance industries, creating jobs and helping small businesses grow and expand.

Tobin has been elected four times to represent rural Arizona in the Legislature since 2007. As Speaker of the House, he has overseen the largest budget reductions in the history of Arizona and led the fight against ObamaCare in Arizona.

Tobin and his wife Jennifer have five children.