He is also a vocal supporter of Donald Trump.
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The Arizona sheriff famous for his tough stance on illegal immigration and keeping jail inmates in tents faces a primary challenge from three fellow Republicans on Tuesday and a hard race for re-election in November.Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is seeking election to a seventh term as the top lawman for the area around Phoenix, is up against ex-police chief and three-time opponent Dan Saban and two others in the Republican primary.Arpaio, 84, was expected to win despite a judge’s request that criminal contempt charges be brought against him stemming from a 2007 racial profiling case where he was found to have violated the constitutional rights of Latino motorists.The investigation and possible prosecution was turned over to the U.S. Justice Department last week.
Two big name Republicans have easily won in Arizona’s primary election. He took 66 percent of the vote. His closest challenger, Dan Saban, had just 26 percent.
The 84-year-old lawman moves on to face the race’s sole Democrat, retired Phoenix police Officer Paul Penzone, in the November 8 general election.
Based on fundraising, their chances appeared dim. Combined, all three challengers raised $85,000.
Two Democrats automatically will advance to the general election.
Arpaio’s waning popularity corresponds with his deepening legal problems.
Over the last four years, a judge has ruled Arpaio’s officers have racially profiled Latinos, and the sheriff was found to be in contempt of court for ignoring court orders in the profiling case.
The judge determined that Arpaio had encouraged his deputies to subject Latino drivers to greater scrutiny during traffic stops than white drivers typically received. At a Houston rally in 2014, Arpaio told supporters that he had violated the order “out of spite” and had arrested 500 people.
“I said, ‘I know too much to not do something about this, ‘” Hill said.
This month, the judge presiding over the profiling case asked prosecutors to pursue a criminal contempt case against Arpaio for prolonging his immigration patrols months after the court ordered them stopped.
The Arizona Republic newspaper’s editorial board was direct in its assessment of Arpaio’s fitness for office.
Just minutes after the results started coming in, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was named the night’s first big victor, according to The Associate Press. The sheriff hasn’t debated any of his challengers during this election cycle. Penzone lost by 6 points in a three-way race that year.
Arpaio said his strong connection with voters will help him overcome the negative attention from the case.
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The self-styled “America’s toughest sheriff”, Arpaio is famed for his staunch opposition to illegal immigration and his outspoken opposition to the Obama administration.
