Former president and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has endorsed two Republicans in Arizona's 8th Congressional District. Trump threw his support behind Abraham Hamadeh and Blake Masters in the House primary election, out of a pool of six candidates vying to replace outgoing Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump praised Blake Masters as a successful businessman and a strong supporter of the 'Make America Great Again' movement. He also lauded Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran and former prosecutor, as a fearless fighter for Election Integrity.
Trump emphasized the need for a dedicated warrior in Congress who will focus on growing the economy, combating inflation, securing the border, ending migrant crime, supporting the military and veterans, and protecting the Second Amendment.
Other Republican candidates in the 8th Congressional District race include former Rep. Trent Franks, Arizona state House Speaker Ben Toma, state Rep. Anthony Kern, and local PTA member Patrick Briody. The district, known for its conservative leanings, is likely to elect the Republican nominee in the primary.
On the Democratic side, biosecurity worker Greg Whitten is running unopposed for the party's nomination in the district, setting the stage for a showdown with the Republican candidate in the general election.
In other Arizona districts, Democrats are eyeing opportunities to unseat vulnerable Republican incumbents. In the 1st Congressional District, GOP incumbent Rep. David Schweikert faces primary rivals including businessman Robert Backie and former FBI agent Kim George.
Meanwhile, in the southeastern part of the state, Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani is seeking a second term in a district that includes suburban Tucson. Ciscomani is expected to win the GOP primary against challenger Kathleen Winn and will likely face Democrat Kisten Engel in a rematch of their closely contested 2022 election.
