PHOENIX — Joe Arpaio, the bellicose former Arizona sheriff whose harsh immigration tactics earned him international notoriety, narrowly lost his Republican primary as he tried to regain his old office in Maricopa County.
Voters instead backed Jerry Sheridan, Mr. Arpaio’s former chief deputy, who promised to revive many of Mr. Arpaio’s policies but without the showmanship that defined the office under Mr. Arpaio’s 24-year reign. Mr. Sheridan will face Sheriff Paul Penzone, the Democrat who trounced Mr. Arpaio four years ago, in the November general election.
In the latest count from Tuesday’s primary, announced on Friday, Mr. Sheridan had secured about 37 percent of the vote in a three-way race, compared to Mr. Arpaio’s 36 percent — a difference of 6,280 votes out of more than 420,000 cast, with only 2,385 ballots remaining to be counted.
Most political observers say Mr. Penzone is the favorite in the general election.
For Mr. Arpaio, 88, the loss on Tuesday was his third electoral defeat in four years. After losing his 2016 re-election bid, he suffered a resounding drubbing in a three-way Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat in 2018.
Ben-J-N on August 8th, 2020 at 01:18 UTC »
They just wanted a sheriff that would do the same thing without the national spotlight. Hardly a victory - in fact, it's probably worse as people won't be paying as close attention.
NSYK on August 8th, 2020 at 01:14 UTC »
Well he cost taxpayers $140 million in lawsuits from his tenure. I could think of a lot of better uses of taxpayer money than paying wrongful death suits.
Like throwing it in a river, because almost everything you can choose is a better investment.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2016/09/21/roberts-arpaio-just-cost-you-another-45-million/90786276/
accountabilitycounts on August 8th, 2020 at 00:43 UTC »
Good. Fuck that guy.