SADDLEBROOKE — Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio spent several hours in Southern Arizona on Wednesday afternoon, telling a large crowd at the SaddleBrooke Republican Club meeting that he would work tirelessly if elected to the Senate and that his support of President Trump will never waver.
The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate addressed the audience of about 200 people in the community north of Tucson for about 45 minutes, focusing on his successes in 50 years of public service, including 24 years as Maricopa County sheriff, and his close and personal relationship with Trump.
Arpaio was pardoned by Trump last summer after he was convicted of ignoring a court order related to racial profiling as sheriff.
Arpaio faces U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, who represents Southern Arizona’s Congressional District 2, and former state Sen. Kelli Ward in this year’s GOP primary to replace Sen. Jeff Flake.
Here are three takeaways from Arpaio’s speech:
Early supporter of Trump
Arpaio spent quite a bit of time talking about his relationship with Trump, noting that the then-presidential candidate repeatedly called Arpaio’s sick wife to ask about her health.
While other Republicans were late in supporting Trump during the 2016 election, Arpaio said he knew the day that Trump announced his intent to run for president that he’d support him politically.
“I was with him in the beginning and I’ll be with him until the end,” Arpaio said.
And his support for Trump will not waiver, regardless of how unpopular Trump might be.
“His approval rating could go down to 1 percent and I’ll still support him,” Arpaio said.
Won’t be a “rubber stamp”
While Arpaio pledged his support to Trump at the SaddleBrooke meeting, he also hinted that he isn’t afraid to disagree with the president.
He said that if the two men found themselves at odds on a particular issue, Arpaio suggested he could work out a deal with Trump.
The former sheriff said he wouldn’t be a “rubber stamp” and that Trump would be receptive to his ideas if elected to the Senate.
Age is just a number
The 85-year-old former sheriff wasn’t shy about his age, although he was quick to correct a woman when she suggested he was 86.
The quick rebuke drew some laughs, but Arpaio’s tone grew serious as he discussed age discrimination.
Age isn’t an issue in the Senate race, he said, but there is too much age discrimination in this country.
One of his issues, he said, would be to fight this type of discrimination, vowing to the crowd that he’d work 14-hour days in Washington, D.C., if elected.
