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Ducey’s Groundwork Pays Off: Sheriff Joe Is Back

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Governor Doug Ducey Supported President Trump’s Pardon, Setting Up Arpaio’s Comeback

Arizonans believed the long-running national embarrassment that is Sheriff Joe Arpaio had been relegated to the dustbin of history. By a 2:1 margin, Arizonans opposed President Trump’s pardon of the Sheriff, but mostly they were thankful to no longer be the butt of late-night TV jokes. 

However, Governor Doug Ducey had other plans for his “friend” who racially profiled the Hispanic community in Maricopa County. His approval of President Trump’s pardon paved the way for Sheriff Joe to make his comeback. It also gives his stamp of approval for the Sheriff’s controversial policies including, but not limited to, “concentration camps”, racial profiling, contempt of court, and more than 157 deaths of inmates in his custody.

“Arpaio’s entrance into the Senate race will only serve to remind voters of the toxic agenda Governor Ducey supports,” said Jared Leopold, DGA Communications Director. “Governor Ducey said Sheriff Joe deserves “credit” for his tactics to reduce crime while the legal system found he deserved jail time. The company he keeps says a lot about how dangerous his policy ideas are for Arizona.”

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In 2014, Ducey Featured Arpaio’s Endorsement in a Campaign Ad Called “Integrity.” According to a 2014 campaign advertisement:

Arpaio: A lot of people have asked me who I’m supporting for Governor. Well this year, Arizonans have a clear choice, and it’s Doug Ducey. Doug is son of a police officer and a man of integrity. And he has the experience Arizona needs right now. I trust Doug to fight to secure the border and to keep our families safe. I hope you’ll join me and vote Doug Ducey for Governor.” [Ducey 2014, “Integrity”, 8/1/14]

In August 2017, Governor Ducey Released a Statement Supporting Trump’s Pardon of His “Friend” Sheriff Joe Arpaio. According to KYMA, “Governor Doug Ducey released a statement supporting the President’s decision. ‘I believe Sheriff Joe deserves credit for helping to reduce crime in Maricopa County over his long career in law enforcement and public office. The president clearly has pardoning powers under the United States Constitution, and with this action, he has brought finality to this chapter in Arizona’s history. Sheriff Joe is my friend, and now he, Ava and their family can move on and enjoy their retirement together.’” [KYMA, 8/25/17]