Key facts
- Mark Lamb, a Trump-endorsed former sheriff, is running in Arizona's 5th District.
- Challenger Daniel Keenan is spending over $1.6 million to highlight allegations of sexual impropriety against Lamb.
- Allegations include sending sexual images, encouraging intimate encounters, and threatening a woman with revenge porn laws.
- Lamb's campaign denies the allegations and points to Trump's endorsement.
- An internal poll shows Keenan narrowly leading Lamb, indicating a tightening race.
Mark Lamb, a former sheriff endorsed by Donald Trump, is facing a significant challenge in the Republican primary for Arizona's 5th District House seat. Businessman Daniel Keenan has poured over $1.6 million of his own funds into the race, aiming to unseat Lamb by highlighting allegations of sexual impropriety and abuse of power.
An investigation by The Arizona Republic detailed accusations that Lamb engaged in a pattern of sending sexual images and instigating intimate encounters involving himself, his wife, and others. One accuser, Jillian Stannard, alleged Lamb encouraged her husband to have sex with other women, including Lamb's wife, and threatened her when she raised concerns. Another woman, Tammy Peacock, reportedly received threats from Lamb related to Arizona's revenge porn law.
Lamb's campaign spokesperson, Ed Morabito, has dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated, emphasizing Lamb's endorsement from President Trump. Morabito also criticized Keenan for focusing on attacking a fellow Republican rather than Democrats.
Keenan has made the allegations a central theme of his campaign, arguing they demonstrate Lamb's moral unfitness for office. He has spent significantly on advertising to bring these accusations to voters' attention, while Lamb's campaign has not aired any TV ads. Keenan also criticizes Lamb for his stance on the 2020 election, claiming Lamb testified against Trump.
The race is seen as a test of Trump's endorsement power in a heavily Republican district. Former Rep. Matt Salmon stated that Trump's endorsement is exceptionally strong within the Republican party. However, Keenan's campaign released internal polling suggesting he has narrowly overtaken Lamb, indicating the allegations may be resonating with voters.
Lamb has also faced scrutiny for his residency and time spent outside the district. Despite the allegations, Lamb has not been charged with any crimes, and a county attorney's investigation found no criminal wrongdoing. The controversy has stirred the district's significant Latter-day Saint community, with some members expressing concern over the alleged behavior conflicting with their religious standards.