Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kelli Ward distanced herself Thursday from her Senate primary rival, former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, after Arpaio resurfaced the debunked claims that former President Obama was not born in the United States.
“I believe that Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaHarris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Five ways America would take a hard left under Joe Biden Valerie Jarrett: ‘Democracy depends upon having law enforcement’ MORE was born here, that he was our legitimate president,” Ward said on CNN’s “New Day.”
Ward’s comments came a day after Arpaio repeated in an interview with WABC’s Rita Cosby the false claim that Obama’s birth certificate was fraudulent, saying Congress should pass a law requiring that such documents be examined.
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Arpaio, 85, announced on Tuesday that he would enter the GOP primary and compete with Ward for the seat now held by Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeGOP lawmakers stick to Trump amid new criticism Kelly holds double-digit lead over McSally in Arizona: poll Trump asserts his power over Republicans MORE (R-Ariz.), who’s retiring.
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But Ward, 48, also defended Arpaio’s record on immigration in the CNN interview, saying he has been a “leader on fighting illegal immigration.”
“Joe’s a patriot. He has been a leader on fighting illegal immigration here in our state — we’re a border state,” Ward said.
Arpaio has long been a controversial figure in politics because of his hardline views on immigration and law enforcement.
After losing his reelection bid in 2016 after more than two decades as Maricopa County sheriff, Arpaio was convicted of ignoring a federal court’s order to stop using racial profiling in law enforcement. President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE later pardoned him.
Asked on CNN on Thursday how Arpaio has been a leader on immigration, Ward said the former sheriff stood up for the “rule of law.”
“He has fought for the rule of law here in Arizona, and that’s what people are looking at,” Ward said.
–Updated at 9:57 a.m.