Trump pal Joe Arpaio still flirting with U.S. Senate run
By Mike Sunnucks – Senior Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal
Nov 9, 2017, 10:00pm
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to flirt with running for the U.S. Senate next year.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., isn’t running for reelection opening up what was already expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country.
Flake is a critic of U.S. President Donald Trump while Arpaio and former state lawmaker Kelli Ward, who is already in the Senate race, are supportive of the president and his policies.
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., is running on the Democratic side and U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., is also expected to run for Flake’s seat.
Arpaio sent a fundraising email Thursday asking supporters whether he should jump into the race.
“My friend President Donald Trump needs a U.S. Senator he a can trust to actually vote for action on illegal immigration, taxes, the economy and more — and some are asking me to step forward,” said Arpaio while also asking for contributions for his legal defense fund.
Trump pardoned Arpaio, 85, earlier this year after he was convicted by a federal court of criminal contempt related to orders in a civil rights trial while he was sheriff.
Arpaio lost his 2016 reelection bid as Maricopa County Sheriff.
“Please let me know if you think I should run for Senate by taking this one question POLL right away,” Arpaio said in the email.
Arpaio has flirted with running for other offices before — including Arizona governor — but never pulled the trigger.
Arizona business interests are wary of Arpaio and Ward over their support for Trump because of his stances on immigration and trade.
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