Rep. Abe Hamadeh holds narrow lead in tight 8th District race
Hamadeh led Democrat Bernadette Greene-Placentia 51.2% to 48.6% as of Thursday morning, in a seat he won by 13 points in 2024.
Republican U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh held a narrow lead over Democratic challenger Bernadette Greene-Placentia in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, based on results as of Thursday morning. He had 51.2% to her 48.6%. He won the district by 13 percentage points in his first term.
The race has been closer than expected in a year when Democrats have flipped two congressional seats in Arizona and dozens nationwide. Greene-Placentia, a small-business owner and long-haul trucker, is making her first run for office. Hamadeh has also been in close contests before, losing the 2022 Arizona attorney general race to Democrat Kris Mayes by 280 votes after a recount.
Greene-Placentia reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 31 that she had been knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted by two assailants while repairing campaign signs in Sun City on Aug. 14. The case became public after she discussed it in an Oct. 7 Phoenix New Times story. Hamadeh offered a $10,000 reward on Oct. 20 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. The sheriff's office said its investigation remains active.
Key points
- Hamadeh led 51.2% to 48.6% as of Thursday morning.
- He won the district by 13 points in 2024.
- Democrats have flipped two Arizona congressional seats this cycle.
- The sheriff's office says its investigation into the assault remains active.
Read the original reporting
Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
