Updated 6:40 p.m. | The National Republican Congressional Committee will begin a $150,000 ad buy beginning Friday in the Arizona special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a GOP source confirmed to Roll Call.

The party’s nominee is veteran Jesse Kelly. He will face former Giffords staffer Ron Barber, who went up on the air the day after the primary earlier this month. Kelly narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010. Much of Barber’s political inner circle was involved in Giffords’ campaign that year, and he has the support of the ex-Congresswoman and her husband.

The House campaign committees, as well as outside groups, have been closely watching and preparing for the race and will play dominant roles in the June 12 special election.

The winner of this race will have to run for re-election in the fall in a slightly redrawn version of the seat. Roll Call rates the special election as a Tossup.

     Updated: 6:40 p.m.

A Democratic source confirmed that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is also set to go up with a $150,000 TV ad buy in the district in the next 48 hours. Both committees, and their allied outside groups and super PACs, are likely to continue spending through the June election.