Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh defeats Bernadette Greene-Placentia in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
The incumbent held off his Democratic challenger to retain a seat he won by 13 percentage points two years ago.
Watch: Abe Hamadeh is all for 'America First Republicans' | 35 seconds
Republican U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh won his first term in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District by 13 percentage points.
But in a blue wave year in which Democrats have flipped two congressional seats in Arizona and dozens across the nation, his bid for reelection in the West Valley district was much tighter.
The Associated Press finally called the race on Friday with Hamadeh ahead 51.3% to 48.7% in the traditional Republican stronghold.
Close races are not new to Abe Hamadeh
While Hamadeh won easily in 2024, he is no stranger to close races. As the Donald Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Arizona attorney general in 2022, he lost to Democrat Kris Mayes by just 280 votes after a recount in which gained more than 200 votes from the original tally.
Greene-Placentia is a small-business owner and long-haul trucker making her first run for office. On Aug. 31, she reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that she was knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted by two assailants while out repairing campaign signs in Sun City early the morning of Aug. 14.
News of the assault did not become public until Greene-Placentia discussed it for an Oct. 7 Phoenix New Times story. On Oct. 20, Hamadeh announced he was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
The sheriff’s office said last week that its investigation remains active.
Click here to see results come in from all the races in Arizona.
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Comments
1 Comments
Not much of a flex to squeak past a marginal Dem candidate in a +13 GOP district. Participation trophy to Dishonest Abe.