Arpaio on Tuesday lost the Republican primary for sheriff of Maricopa County to his former replacement Jerry Sheridan by about 6,000 votes, according to the results of the Maricopa County election department.
Sheridan will challenge current Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, a Democrat and former Phoenix police officer, who fired Arpaio in 2016.
Arpaio, who calls himself “America’s toughest sheriff,” was in office for 24 years for Maricopa County. He gained national fame for his treatment of those he had in a notorious outdoor game known as ‘Tent City’, where he wore people pink underwear and worked in chain ties. Critics have said the facility was disrespectful to residents, who remained in burning heat.
Arpaio had promised that his reelection would bring back “Tent City” and some of his most controversial police resources.
In 2017, Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for disregarding a court order in a case on racial profiling by continuing to patrol migrants, and faced up to six months in prison.
President Donald Trump issued his first presidential apology to Arpaio, an early Trump supporter, that year – a decision that drew heavy criticism.
Arpaio then attempted a political comeback by running for U.S. Senate in 2018, but lost to Martha McSally in the Republican primary.
After news of his loss, Arpaio told The Republic that “this will be the last time I run for office.”
Sheridan worked for 38 years in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office before retiring as chief replacement. He was found in 2016 in civil contempt in connection with the case over race profile. He was not charged with criminal contempt because of the statute of limitations.
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