President Trump and Kelli Ward exchange pleasantries at Mar-a-Lago

PHOENIX — President Donald Trump ‘exchanged pleasantries’ with Arizona Senate candidate Kelli Ward at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Friday morning.

According to a report from The Hill, Ward is running for the seat Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) plans to vacate in October.

She has been endorsed by Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief strategist, who is putting together a stable of GOP candidates to challenge the Republican establishment.

Ward ran against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2016 but lost by over 10 percent of votes. She has spent time on the Arizona legislature but not since 2014 when she resigned to challenge McCain.

The report mentions that a White House spokesperson said the encounter was a ‘simple exchange of pleasantries’ and not an official meeting.

On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) would be a ‘great candidate’ to replace Flake, but McSally has not yet announced that she is running for the seat.

Even former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has announced interest in running for the seat, potentially driving the total to three candidates from the Republican party who may attempt to reclaim the seat for the GOP.

Arpaio was pardoned by Trump earlier on Aug. 25 and Arpaio has referred to Trump as his ‘friend’.

Related

SAFE Alert issued for nonverbal 23-year-old last seen in PhoenixBlue Alert issued for suspect in fatal shooting of Tucson police recruitPhoenix events calendar: Things to do around Valley this weekend and beyondPhoenix concert calendar: Imagine Dragons, Jonas Brothers join list of upcoming Valley showsSAFE Alert issued for 43-year-old Mesa man4 hospitalized, including 2 children, following North Phoenix crash