Joe Arpaio says he only wants to serve one term in the Senate
Feb 7, 2018, 6:00 PM | Updated: Feb 8, 2018, 9:42 am
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — If former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is elected to the big leagues — the U.S. Senate — can Arizonans expect him to hold the post for long?
According to the former lawman, no.
Speaking to the Saddlebrooke Republican Club on Wednesday, Arpaio told members that he only wants to serve one term in the Senate if he is elected to Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat in November.
Arpaio also pushed back on claims that his age — he will be 86 years old in June — would slow him down.
He said age is not an issue in this race and that there is too much “age discrimination in this country,” according to Arizona Daily Star reporter Joe Ferguson, all while vowing to work 14-hour days in Washington.
Arpaio first announced his run for Senate last month, saying he was doing so to “support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to make America great again.”
He had floated the possibility of a Senate run for years, but it finally took hold after he was ousted from his position as sheriff in 2016.
Arpaio will, so far, face former state Sen. Kelli Ward and U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) in the primary election. If he comes out on top in that race, he will likely face U.S. Rep. Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.)
