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2024 Maricopa County sheriff race: The candidates

Learn more about the candidates in the Maricopa County sheriff race: Democrat Tyler Kamp and Republican Jerry Sheridan.

Current Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner was appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 8, 2024, after Paul Penzone stepped down. He lost to Kamp in the Democratic primary.

Maricopa is the largest county in Arizona and the fourth largest in the country. The sheriff oversees 3,500 employees including sworn deputies, jail and civilian staff. MCSO is currently under federal court ordered oversight as a result of decade old decision which found the department racially profiled Latino drivers.

Tyler Kamp
Owen Soba Photography
Tyler Kamp

Tyler Kamp

Party: Democrat
Website: kampforsheriff.com

Kamp had a long career at the Phoenix Police Department, holding several positions including gang enforcement sergeant and homicide detective. He ousted Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner in the July. Before Skinner, Democrat Paul Penzone was the county sheriff. Penzone stepped down in 2024, and could only be replaced by someone of the same political party. Skinner was a Republican, but changed his party registration and was selected for the job.

Kamp states on his campaign site that he wants to “build on the successes” of Penzone. As first reported by ABC15, after Kamp left the Phoenix Police Department claims he sexually harassed an officer were “substantiated,” although he wasn’t investigated until he had already left the department. Kamp told ABC15 that hundreds of text messages he sent to the officer were taken out of context. As part of Kamp’s campaign platform; he says he wants to create a taskforce for information sharing across all law enforcement agencies and provide inmates with tools to reduce recidivism.

Jerry Sheridan speaking with attendees at the 2024 Arizona Young Republicans State Convention at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale on May 3, 2024.
Gage Skidmore/CC by 2.0
Jerry Sheridan

Jerry Sheridan

Party: Republican
Website: sheridan4sheriff2024.com

The former executive member of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is now running for the top position of sheriff itself. Sheridan was chief deputy of the office under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a controversial figure best known for his tough anti-illegal immigration policies and conviction for racial profiling.

Sheridan ran against Arpaio in 2020 and beat him in the primary, but lost the general election to Democrat Paul Penzone who has since stepped down. Penzone was replaced by Skinner, who lost his primary election.

Sheridan was a featured speaker at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Glendale on Aug. 23. Sheridan said in his speech that he will put people who abuse animals in jail.

“If you’re abusing animals, you’re probably abusing your family, too,” he said. He also spoke about combating homelessness by getting medical help for people, fighting back against fentanyl dealing and protecting civil liberties.

Al Macias, former KJZZ news director, retired as KJZZ's news director in 2022. He rejoined the station as a features reporter in 2023 and also as a part-time editor in 2024.
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