Arpaio: I have not heard from Trump since announcing Senate candidacy
Jan 18, 2018, 5:08 AM
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, is joined by Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio during a new conference in Marshalltown, Iowa. Trump said Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, that he specifically timed his controversial pardon of the former Arizona sheriff to capitalize on all the viewers tuned into storm coverage. The Friday night pardon wasn't an attempt to hide the news, he said: "I assumed the ratings would be higher." (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
PHOENIX — Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was right alongside President Donald Trump during the campaign and the president repaid the favor by pardoning Arpaio after he was found guilty of contempt of court.
But now that the former lawman is running for U.S. Senate, does he have Trump’s support? Not exactly.
In an interview with BuzzFeed News, Arpaio said the president has not called him since he announced his candidacy earlier this month, but he said he isn’t bothered by that.
“Maybe I’m a strange guy, maybe I’m too old-fashioned of a guy, because when I give favors, I don’t ask for favors in return,” Arpaio said Tuesday.
“If he doesn’t decide to come out front, that’s OK with me. I presume he may stay out of the primary.”
However, Arpaio continued to tout his support of Trump, which was the main reason the former sheriff said he decided to run for Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat in the first place. Flake announced last year that he would not seek re-election.
“I was with the president from day one,” he said. “I haven’t become a supporter just recently just to win elections.”
When Arpaio announced his candidacy on Jan. 9, he said it was for “for one unwavering reason: To support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to make America great again.”
While the primary election isn’t until August, there are already a couple names in the ring who are vying for the Republican Party’s seat.
Former state Sen. Kelli Ward announced her candidacy in 2016, shortly after losing a primary race to Sen. John McCain, and U.S. Rep. Martha McSally launched her campaign this month after weeks of speculation.
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and Phoenix attorney Deedra Abboud are both running for the Democratic seat.
