Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, backed by Donald Trump's endorsement, defeated a better-funded opponent in Arizona's 5th congressional district primary, even as multiple women's accusations of sexual impropriety trailed his campaign.
Lamb, 53, beat self-made homebuilder Daniel Keenan on Tuesday despite Keenan outspending him by a two-to-one margin. The seat opened after incumbent Rep. Andy Biggs chose to run for governor rather than seek reelection, and Cook Political Report rates the district R+10, making Lamb the heavy favorite to reach Congress in November.
The primary victory caps a campaign season shadowed by allegations from multiple women, an investigative report by the Arizona Republic, and opposition flyers that once labeled Lamb a "sexual predator" and "pervert" during an earlier reelection bid for sheriff. Lamb and his attorneys have called the claims "false" and "baseless and harmful." His campaign spokesman, in a statement to the New York Times, dismissed them as "lies" and slanderous claims from "long-discredited individuals."
Voters in the deep-red district sided with Lamb anyway.
The accusations against Lamb are not new, but they gained fresh attention during the congressional race. The Arizona Republic published an investigative report alleging that Lamb and his wife, Janel, were "open with a close circle of friends about their sexual activity and partners." The couple are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have five children, and have each published political memoirs. Lamb authored a book on "traditional values in a modern world."
Jillian Stannard, a longtime friend of the Lambs, alleged that Lamb facilitated an affair between Janel Lamb and Stannard's husband, Matt Hilsabeck, one of Lamb's closest friends and the chairman of his campaign committee. Stannard said the relationship led to the collapse of her marriage and claimed the couple drew them into a swinging circle.
A separate accuser, Tammy Peacock, alleged a years-long extramarital affair with Lamb. The Daily Mail reported that Lamb allegedly messaged Peacock warning her against publicly discussing their relationship:
"Please just no more posting... I will call DPS."
Lamb allegedly warned Peacock that sharing intimate material could violate Arizona's revenge porn law. Peacock died in a 2021 car crash, and the full timeline of her public statements about the alleged affair is unclear from available reporting.
Arizona's political landscape has seen no shortage of controversies this cycle. Elsewhere, the Department of Justice warned election officials across all 50 states about noncitizen voting enforcement, a reminder that the integrity of elections remains a live issue heading into November.
An unnamed Colorado law enforcement officer also came forward, alleging she and Lamb discussed meeting for sex after connecting through his campaign's social media accounts. In messages attributed to Lamb, he wrote:
"I am totally okay with excessively flirty. Hahahah!!... You never have to worry about offending me."
Another unnamed woman said Lamb sent intimate photos and urged her to "think about that being you." That woman allegedly responded to photos from Lamb's phone with sexually explicit language.
Lamb told Phoenix New Times earlier this year that he is with "one woman", his wife. Andrew Gould, a former Arizona Supreme Court Justice now working on Lamb's campaign, dismissed the allegations as rumors that had "circulated online for years" and were "repeated without verification and often to only cause great reputational and political harm."
No criminal charges have been filed against Lamb in connection with any of the allegations. No legal action by Lamb against his accusers has been confirmed.
Before entering the congressional race, Lamb served as Pinal County Sheriff and built a national profile through appearances on A&E's reality programs 60 Days In and Live PD. He earned Trump's endorsement and was photographed at Mar-a-Lago with the former president. His brand centered on border security, law enforcement, and traditional values, a platform that resonated in a district where Republican voters outnumber Democrats by a wide margin.
That profile survived attacks that would have sunk many candidates. During an earlier sheriff's reelection campaign, opponents circulated flyers calling him a "sexual predator" and "pervert." He won that race, too. The pattern held Tuesday: voters weighed the allegations against Lamb's record and his endorsement, and chose him over a rival who spent twice as much money.
Political survival stories are nothing new in either party. Pennsylvania Democrats recently lined up to challenge Sen. John Fetterman after he broke with his party on a key vote, a reminder that defying your base, or weathering scandal, carries different costs depending on the district.
Several gaps in the record remain. The exact vote margin between Lamb and Keenan has not been reported. The Daily Mail noted that Lamb did not respond to its request for comment. The identities of some accusers remain undisclosed, and the specific nature of "abuse of power" allegations referenced alongside the sexual misconduct claims has not been detailed.
With the district rated solidly Republican, Lamb is expected to win the general election and take his seat in Congress. The question is whether the allegations, denied by Lamb, unresolved in any court, will follow him to Washington or fade into the background noise of a won campaign.
Contentious primaries and sharp political fights have defined this cycle across the country. Recent clashes over political succession have shown that personal conduct and political loyalty are tested in different ways depending on the moment, and the electorate.
Voters in Arizona's 5th district had every chance to reject Lamb. They heard the accusations, saw the flyers, read the headlines, and picked him anyway. In a republic, that settles the primary. Whether it settles the story is another matter.
