Who's running in Arizona's 8th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Abraham Hamadeh currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Election integrity, the issue that defined his 2022 campaign and its aftermath.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
Support for Israel, reflected in his AIPAC endorsement.
Lower taxes and reduced federal spending.
Support for President Trump's agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 8th District since January 2025; elected in 2024 with 56.5%.
United States Army Reserve intelligence officer; former Maricopa County prosecutor.
Lost the 2022 Arizona attorney general election to Kris Mayes by 511 votes and brought a series of unsuccessful lawsuits contesting the result; a judge dismissed his challenge, finding he had not proved the vote-counting errors he alleged.
In October 2025 called for "brave attorneys" to run against Judge Lee Jantzen, the trial judge who rejected that challenge, saying the judge ruled "WITHOUT considering the evidence."
Won the July 21, 2026 Republican primary unopposed with 69,182 votes.
Arguments in favor
He has President Trump, Turning Point Action, AIPAC and Republicans for National Renewal behind him, and was unopposed for renomination, taking every vote cast in his primary.
— Endorsements from the officials and organisations named; July 2026 primary results
Republican primary turnout in the district was 69,182 to the Democrats' 47,636, and every forecaster rates the seat likely, solid or safe Republican.
— July 2026 primary turnout; Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings
Arguments against
A court dismissed his challenge to the 2022 attorney general result, finding he had not proved the errors he alleged, and he has continued to press the case since — calling in October 2025 for candidates to run against the judge who ruled against him, saying the judge "helped disenfranchise THOUSANDS of voters."
— Arizona court ruling dismissing the election contest; his own October 2025 statement, reported by KJZZ and the Arizona Capitol Times
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Hamadeh by name from Bernadette Greene-Placentia, her campaign, or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee could be found. The criticism above rests on the court's own finding and on his subsequent public statements.
No verified campaign website could be found: one domain in his name does not resolve and another is parked.
No fundraising figures for the general election were found in the material available.
Working-class representation, drawn from her work as a truck driver.
Cost of living in the Phoenix suburbs.
Offering a Democratic alternative in a district her party has not seriously contested.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Truck driver.
Won the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary with 31,312 votes (65.7%) against Raymond Keeler.
The Federal Election Commission sent her campaign three compliance notices in 2026, questioning a missing pre-primary report, an $85,687 increase in reported receipts and several discrepancies in its disclosures.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
She won the Democratic nomination outright with about two-thirds of the vote against a software engineer and veteran, in a three-way field.
— July 2026 primary results
Arguments against
The Federal Election Commission sent her campaign three compliance notices — over a missing pre-primary report due twelve days before the primary, an $85,687 jump in reported receipts, and other discrepancies. Brian Anderson of Arizona Capitol Oversight said he was "not sure I've ever seen such willful violations of campaign finance law before."
— Federal Election Commission compliance notices, July–August 2026, reported by the Arizona Daily Independent
What we couldn’t verify
The FEC notices are requests for information and correction; the commission has made no finding that Greene-Placentia or her campaign violated federal law, and the characterisation of "willful violations" is a critic's, not the commission's. Her response was not found.
No verified campaign website, detailed platform, endorsements or fundraising totals could be found; Arizona PBS's candidate profile refuses automated retrieval.
No criticism of her from Abraham Hamadeh, his campaign, or the National Republican Congressional Committee was found — the compliance story was raised by a conservative Arizona outlet and an oversight commentator.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Arizona held its primaries on July 21, 2026. Two candidates appear on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Abraham Hamadeh, who was unopposed for renomination, and Democrat Bernadette Greene-Placentia, who won her primary with 65.7% against Raymond Keeler. The district covers the northern and western Phoenix suburbs, including northern Glendale and Peoria. Hamadeh won it with 56.5% in 2024 and forecasters rate it likely, solid or safe Republican.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Arizona ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.