Arpaio Running For Senate: Once-Convicted Ex-Sheriff Tosses Hat

PHOENIX, AZ – Joe Arpaio is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Arizona Senator Jeff Flake. Arpaio made the announcement Tuesday via Twitter.

"I am running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again," Arpaio tweeted.

He later added that he is "sick of the smugness that has taken over the Senate chambers of our Capitol, and I am fed up with career politicians and their talking points, saying one thing and doing another.

"It's past time for the Senate to regain the confidence of the American people – to re-earn it actually – and I am committed to return the Senate to a tough work ethic America expects and deserves."

Arpaio spent 24 years as Maricopa County Sheriff before being tossed by voters in 2016. He lost to Democrat Paul Penzone by 12 percentage points.

At the time of the campaign, Arpaio was under investigation for defying a judge's order to cut back on immigration patrols that had been deemed unconstitutional.

It was that investigation that led to his conviction in July. The following month, he became the first person to receive a presidential pardon from Trump. He had campaigned with Trump several times during the presidential campaign.

Arpaio spent years pushing the limits – from starting a controversial tent city prison that he referred to as a "concentration camp" to his years-long insistence that President Obama had been born overseas.

He has not let go of that last belief.

His announcement drew scorn from the Democrats.

Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez called Arapio's candidacy "a disturbing sign of moral decay in the modern Republican Party."

The American Civil Liberties Union released a statement saying they've won several victories over Arpaio in court.

"We've sued Joe Arpaio for denying women prisoners access for abortion, for victimizing people with disabilities, and for racially profiling latinos," they said.

"We've won every time."

Rep. Ruben Gallego, who represents the 7th Congressional District, was one of several to question whether Arpaio's run is about raising money to help pay off his legal bills.

"You lost the most populous Republican county in Arizona," he said. "Just give up this fundraising scam now."

Arpaio joins an already crowded field looking to replace Flake. Kellie Ward, who has received praise from Trump and Steve Bannon, had been considered the frontrunner.

While Rep. Martha McSally has not formerly declared, her expected candidacy is perhaps the worst-kept secret in Arizona politics.

Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held up McSally as the type of candidate the Republicans are running in 2018.

McSally is expected to make it official on Friday.

The candidate that wins the Republican primary will then face Rep. Krysten Sinema, a Democrat.

File photo of Arpaio campaigning with Trump in 2016 via Scott Olson/Getty Images News/Getty Images