Former President Donald Trump and his newly selected running mate, Senator JD Vance, have thrown their weight behind different Republican candidates vying for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
The competition features a six-way GOP primary battle for the vacant House seat currently held by retiring Representative Debbie Lesko. Arizona’s significance in the upcoming 2024 election can’t be overstated, with its two congressional seats, Senate race, and 11 electoral college votes all pivotal come November.
Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, endorsed Abe Hamadeh for the 8th Congressional District seat in December. Hamadeh is closely aligned with Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and ran for the state’s attorney general in 2022.
Contrarily, Vance threw his support behind venture capitalist Blake Masters in October 2023. Masters, who previously had Trump’s endorsement in the 2022 Arizona Senate race but lost to Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, is now aiming for the House seat.
Both candidates took to social media to reiterate their respective endorsements during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Masters shared a photo of him with Vance outside Trump’s luxury hotel, thanking Vance for endorsing him in his House race.
Shortly after, Hamadeh’s campaign shared a photo of the candidate shaking hands with Trump and expressing excitement about being endorsed by the former President for his House race.
According to a report by The Arizona Republic, Masters and Hamadeh are embroiled in a fierce contest for the 8th Congressional seat. Recent campaign ads by Masters have targeted Hamadeh’s religious and political beliefs, while Hamadeh’s team has accused Masters of belonging to a nudist colony.
Both sides have refuted the accusations. Hamadeh’s spokesperson, Erica Knight, criticized Masters’ campaign tactics, while Masters’ spokesperson, Ryan Girdusky, dismissed Hamadeh’s claims as false.
A recent poll indicates that Hamadeh is leading among likely Republican primary voters ahead of the July 30 primary in Arizona. Conducted by The Strategy Group Company, the survey showed Hamadeh with 30% support, while Masters garnered 19%.
Another earlier poll by the National Pulse also favored Masters, showing him with a nearly double-digit lead over Hamadeh. The dynamics of the race seem fluid as the primary date approaches, with both candidates actively campaigning to secure their place in the race.