Ron Barber, an ex-aide to former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), went up with his first ad in the race to finish his one-time boss’s term. The buy came less than a day after the GOP selected veteran Jesse Kelly as its nominee in the race.

Barber’s ad is positive and biographical. He touts his work with the mentally disabled, running a small business and as a Congressional staffer. According to GOP ad trackers, the campaign is putting $40,000 behind the ad.

“I’m Ron Barber, and I’ve seen a lot in my life,” Barber says in the narration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ZVZ9KXPHY&feature=player_embedded

This is Kelly’s second time as his party’s nominee. He narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010. Whichever candidate wins the June 12 general special election will have to run for re-election in a slightly redrawn version of the district this fall.

Roll Call Politics rates this race as a Tossup.