Republican Mark Lamb addresses Tennessee ranch speculation after winning Congressional seat in Arizona

Rep.-elect Mark Lamb (R-Ariz.) laughed off accusations that he has been living in Tennessee since buying a ranch there instead of in the state sending him to Congress.

“When I heard that I thought it was the silliest thing, and I can’t believe that people actually listen to that. Yes, we have a ranch in Tennessee, and I’m thankful for all the free advertising we got for it,” Lamb told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Wednesday.

The 140-acre Lamb Ranch is a family operation in rural Michie, Tennessee, that includes raising cattle, hosting events and renting cabins, according to its website.

The former Pinal County sheriff said his children and grandchildren live at the ranch and run it. He has appeared in multiple videos showing him at the ranch, but he said he has spent only 15 days there since buying it earlier this year.

“I live in San Tan Valley, Arizona, and now obviously I’ll be living part time here in Washington, D.C., doing this job. And, of course, I will visit Tennessee because that’s where my kids and grandkids live.”

Mark Lamb’s opponents made Tennessee ranch a campaign issue

His opponents tried to make the ranch and Lamb’s residency a campaign issue.

Joseph Raetzer, the campaign manager for Daniel Keenan, Lamb’s primary opponent in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, accused Lamb of perjury related to sworn statements he made in a disclosure form. Raetzer referred to Tennessee in a May statement about the perjury allegations.

“We invite Mark Lamb to come clean and explain why he didn’t get sent to prison despite committing such an obvious crime, but we’ve heard he’s too busy putting down roots in Tennessee, where he’s building his new home,” Raetzer said.

The issue did not go away after Lamb, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, defeated Keenan in the GOP primary.

“He wants us to believe that the American Dream is a $3 million ranch, 1,500 miles away from here. That’s not what we’re hearing at the doors,” Democratic nominee Elizabeth Lee told reporters in August, according to The Arizona Republic. “People are worried about how to get a first house, let alone bragging about the second one.”

Mark Lamb says Americans are ‘sick and tired’ of ugly political campaigns

The residency issue and other controversies did not prevent Lamb from winning the East Valley seat held by Rep. Andy Biggs for the last decade. Biggs ran for governor instead of reelection but lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Lamb’s personal life also became an issue after The Arizona Republic published several stories about alleged sexual impropriety and other misconduct by the former sheriff.

Lamb said he discussed his concerns about the “ugly” tone of political discourse and campaigns during his orientation in Washington. He blamed political consultants who profit from pushing candidates to spend money on sensationalized advertising.

“I think the American people are sick and tired of it,” he said Wednesday. “My family, my wife and I had to sit there and be lied about, and there will be people in my district who I will never convince that I’m not the person that my opponent portrayed me to be. And it is sad that somebody has to go through it.”

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