Democrats hold on to Arizona seat vacated by Gabrielle Giffords Ron Barber, a former aide of Gabrielle Giffords, has won the seat she vacated in Arizona. Photograph: Samantha Sais/Reuters Democrat Ron Barber has won a special House election in southern Arizona to finish the term of Gabrielle Giffords, the congresswoman wounded in a mass shooting. Giffords resigned a year after she was shot in the head while meeting with constituents at a Tucson shopping centre. Barber, a Giffords' aide, defeated the Republican Jesse Kelly, a former marine who narrowly lost a House race to Giffords in 2010. The 66-year-old Barber was seriously injured in the same rampage in which Giffords was shot. Six others were killed. Holding on to the seat has been a priority for Democrats as they seek to regain control of the House of Representatives in November elections.