Joe Arpaio on Sunday announced his 2020 bid for a seventh term as sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona.
Arpaio, 87, was defeated for re-election as sheriff in November 2016 shortly after he was charged with contempt of court for having ignored a federal judge’s order to stop arresting immigrants solely on suspicion that they were in the country illegally.
"The last four years have proven to be a time of lost opportunities to continue the kind of tough policing this county needs," Arpaio wrote in a statement posted on Twitter. "Once back in office, I will use my position to restore pride to our law enforcement ranks, not only here, in the fourth-largest county in America, but across the country."
Arpaio lost a primary race for the U.S. Senate to Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., who went on to be elected in November.
In his statement, he warned that his enemies would do their worst to make sure he isn’t re-elected.
"During the past several years, his opponents, activists and political figures on the Left, have utilized slanderous attacks on him through the fake and biased news media to try and keep him from being heard, but these efforts have failed," the statement said. "However, he expects these attacks will continue in full force, even more so with today's announcement."
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.