In 2016 Joe Arpaio lost his bid to be re-elected as sheriff of Maricopa County. Since that time, he has run for office several times and lost. Yet, at 91, Arpaio is running for mayor a second time.  What makes Joe run?

Arpaio has suggested that he is running for office because he is a man without hobbies who wants to continue working. It appears, however, that the job Arpaio wants is sheriff. The doormat outside his office says “Sheriff Joe.” On social media and when promoting the public events where he sells books and pink underwear, Arpaio refers to himself as “Sheriff Joe.” Arpaio clearly misses being sheriff. He misses it so much that he has proposed forming a “Mayor’s Posse” if he is elected mayor.   

Arpaio may have other motivations for keeping his hat in the ring. “Candidate Arpaio” can continue to exercise control over unspent campaign funds and raise more.

In 2021, Arpaio rolled over more than $200,000 in unspent campaign money to his mayoral campaign. If Arpaio were no longer a candidate, he would be required to return unspent campaign money to contributors or donate it to other candidates, PACS or charities. Unspent campaign funds could not be used or converted for Arpaio’s personal use. He could no longer use campaign funds to pay for things such as office expenses, travel, accommodations, entertainment or the salaries of personal assistants.

As a candidate, Arpaio can also continue to raise money. From January 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024, Arpaio’s campaign raised approximately $30,000, according to his report. Less than a third of this amount could be traced to residents of Fountain Hills. The remainder came from hundreds of out-of-state donations. 

Has campaigning become Arpaio’s hobby?  If so, it has been a lucrative one that he is unlikely to quit.

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