Candidates for nomination for U.S. Senate

Name: Deedra Abboud

Race: U.S. Senate

Party affiliation: Democrat

Statement:

“This isn’t about left or right – it’s about a today and a tomorrow that unites us and gets the work done. I’m ready to have the tough and candid conversations with Arizona voters. I’m ready to challenge those elected officials who are more interested in keeping their jobs than doing their jobs. I am ready to fight for Arizona, for our shared values, for the American dream.“

Deedra has spent every day of her campaign listening to the people of Arizona. She has met with Arizonans from every county, has visited native tribes, has been to the border towns, raves and so many more places that you would simply never expect to see a candidate. Deedra has listened to the people and has used their wishes to strategize her campaign.

Healthcare, Education, PAC & Dark Money, Net Neutrality, Separation of Religion and State; this is what the people care about, and these are the cornerstones of Deedra’s campaign.

Accessibility, accountability, and transparency are cornerstones of her campaign, with the most detailed website, a presence on every social media platform, and signed pledges bringing clarity to her policies.

Deedra knows that it will require steps like these to reunite Arizona.

“My campaign was founded on the mission of working for the people. We all want the same things: education for our children, healthcare for our families, to feel safe and protected. We all want a path to a better future.

Elected officials should reach across the aisle on Main Street before they reach across the aisle in DC. We need to speak up to make sure our future is strong, and we need to empower our working families, our youth, veterans, and entrepreneurs to ensure all of Arizona succeeds.”

Name: Joe Arpaio

Race: U.S. Senate

Party affiliation: Republican

Statement:

Before I was known as “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” I had a long and decorated career in law enforcement before being elected to Sheriff of Maricopa County in 1992.

After serving in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953, I went on to build a law enforcement career as a police officer, then a federal narcotics agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). For almost a decade, I was stationed in foreign countries where I headed the DEA combatting the drug trade in places like Turkey, the Middle East, Mexico and Central and South America. I was also a diplomatic attaché. In my last years with the DEA, I also gained invaluable expertise on border issues as the head of the DEA in Arizona and Texas. I concluded my remarkable federal career as head of the DEA for Arizona.

In 1992, I successfully campaigned to become the Sheriff of Maricopa County, becoming the head of the nation’s third largest Sheriff’s Office which employs over 3400 people. I served an unprecedented six 4-year terms.

Today, I’m running for the United State Senate for a simple reason: Our state deserves to finally have a real conservative voice representing them in Washington. Our political system is on the verge of a complete breakdown, but I have the grit and determination to fight to fix it. I’m the only candidate in this race who has pledged to serve only one term, which means I won’t be beholden to special interests trying to buy my vote. The only special interests I recognize are the people of Arizona and our great country.

I supported Donald Trump from Day One and continue to support him to this day. The people of Arizona know me and they know they can trust me to always do the right thing.

Name: Martha McSally

Race: U.S. Senate

Party affiliation: Republican

Statement:

I served 26 years in the Air Force, becoming the first woman to fly a fighter in combat and command a fighter squadron. After serving our country in uniform, I ran for Congress in Southern Arizona, and won my race in 2014.

Since “deploying” to DC in January 2015, I’ve led efforts in Congress and worked alongside our President to bring solutions to our community’s and this country’s most pressing issues--including saving the A-10, funding our military, securing our border and cutting taxes for hard working Arizonans.

Military readiness is vital to our national security, yet Democrats continue to play politics and vote to cut funding for our troops. I worked with President Trump to increase funding and rebuild our military.

Arizonans deserve a raise. I fought for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the House, and led the fight to preserve deductions that support working women and seniors, and I’m proud to see all Arizonians reap the benefits.

Violent gangs continue to use our porous border and immigration loopholes to traffic drugs and people, yet Kyrsten Sinema advocated and voted for extreme open border policies that protect violent criminals instead of our communities. Sinema also voted to cut funding for ICE and our ports of entry—the gateway to supply the opioid crisis. Sinema would vote with Elizabeth Warren on open borders policies and Supreme Court judges in the Senate, and we can’t allow that to happen.

Arizonans deserve opportunity and security, and this race could decide the Senate majority and the future of this country. I fought for this country in uniform, and I will fight for all Arizonans as this state’s next United States Senator. I would be honored to represent our state as the first woman Senator and the first Republican from Southern AZ in our history.

Name: Kyrsten Sinema

Race: U.S. Senate

Party affiliation: Democrat

Statement:

Every day, Arizonans tell me they are fed up with the chaos and dysfunction of Washington. It’s time for our leaders to stop fighting with each other and start fighting for Arizona. That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate.

Our campaign is about Arizonans and standing up for our shared values.

I was born in Tucson and growing up, my family struggled. Through it all, I learned the value of hard work and the importance of helping others. I got my shot at the American Dream, and now it’s my duty to make sure all Arizonans get their shot, too.

That determination to give back led me into public service. In my six years in Congress, we’ve been able to get a lot done.

We passed the largest pay raise for our military in a decade while blocking a pay raise for members of Congress. We defended health care access for Arizonans while protecting Medicare and Social Security. Senator John McCain and I worked together to protect $3.4 billion in school funding for Arizona.

I’m from a military family, so honoring our commitment to veterans is personal for me. I’m proud that we’ve passed five laws supporting our veterans since 2017.

More work remains. My priorities are helping veterans get the benefits they’ve earned, expanding access to quality, affordable health care, creating good-paying jobs for Arizonans, and keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.

I was ranked the third most independent member of Congress, and I’m committed to working across the aisle to get results for Arizona. I’m focused on forming relationships, finding common ground, and just getting stuff done.

Arizona deserves a Senator who will be a voice for every Arizonan. That’s why I’m running for Senate, and I’d be honored to have your vote.

Name: Kelli Ward

Race: U.S. Senate

Party affiliation: Republican

Statement:

As a trained problem solver, one of my top priorities as senator will be securing the border and overhauling America’s immigration system – including building the wall, ending chain migration, scrapping the diversity lottery, defunding sanctuary cities, and implementing mandatory E-Verify.

As a doctor, I stand firmly behind fully repealing the disaster known as Obamacare. If Obamacare taught us anything, it is that massive governmental overreach can be catastrophic – which is why I also support cutting wasteful federal spending and reducing the national debt, as well as returning control over schools and education to parents and local communities.

As a military wife who has had to send my husband into battle zones, I am a huge supporter of the men and women in uniform who served, and are serving, our country. Unlike the Establishment candidates in this race, though, I don’t believe in endless occupations and failed nation building. Instead, I support President Reagan’s doctrine of “peace through strength” and know the best deterrent to war is a strong military.

As a mother, I want to see the American economy continue to grow and bring jobs back into the United States. I want to see free trade, but also fair and reciprocal trade. I want to see President Trump’s tax cuts made permanent, because Washington already has too much of our money. In short, I want to put Americans first again and secure the American dream for the next generation of our citizens.

With me, you’ll have a voice and a fighter in the U.S. Senate – someone who brings AZ to DC, not DC to AZ. I will always be honest, authentic, and accessible, and will continue to build relationships with those I represent, so we can enjoy government of, by, and for the people.