Arizona's Hamadeh announces congressional bid to replace retiring Debbie Lesko

Hamadeh's announcement came within hours of Arizona GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko announcing that she would not seek reelection to her seat.

By Ben Whedon

Published: October 17, 2023 8:17pm

Updated: October 17, 2023 8:26pm

Former Arizona Republican Attorney General candidate Abe Hamadeh on Tuesday announced that he would seek election to U.S. Congress in 2024.

"Our country is in desperate need of courageous fighters, and that’s why I’m proud to announce I’m running for Congress in Arizona’s 8th District. President Trump is under attack. He needs back up — and I’m ready to help him Make America Great Again," Hamadeh posted on X.

Hamadeh's announcement came within hours of Arizona GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko's announcing that she would not seek reelection to her seat. Lesko has represented the 8th District since 2018, after winning a special election. It is a generally Republican constituency and she ran unopposed save for write-in candidates in 2022.

Hamadeh achieved national fame as the 2022 Republican candidate for state attorney general, running alongside firebrand GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. Both were defeated, but launched a litany of election challenges in the wake of those contests.

Lake, for her part, announced a Senate bid earlier this month.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.