Abe Hamadeh vs. Rachel Mitchell for county attorney? Democrats would love it

Get ready for a race for the ages.

Speculation is brewing that Abe Hamadeh plans to challenge Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in next year’s Republican primary.

Hamadeh on Tuesday teased what appears to be a coming announcement with a new Happy Warrior logo and social media account, called Team ABE — though for what, he didn’t say.

It makes sense that having lost his 2022 bid for attorney general, he would now set his sights on the county attorney’s office in 2024.

Mitchell is disliked by the party’s MAGA warriors for daring to (successfully) defend the county against stolen election claims brought by Kari Lake and Mark Finchem.

The fact that it was her job to do so does not spare her the wrath of the far right.

Mitchell is infinitely more qualified

In June, the Maricopa County Republican Committee’s executive board censured Mitchell and invited “interested, motivated and qualified Republicans” to run against her next year.

Hamadeh can’t touch Mitchell when it comes to qualifications for the job.

She is a conservative Republican and a no-nonsense prosecutor who spent the better part of two decades putting away rapists and child molesters before being appointed county attorney upon the resignation of Allister Adel in 2022.

She won her countywide race handily in November while all around her Trump-endorsed MAGA candidates for statewide posts fell to Democrats.

Another view: Hamadeh’s team caught misleading the court

Hamadeh, meanwhile, graduated from law school in 2016 and spent several years as a low-level county prosecutor while also serving 18 months overseas in the Army Reserve. Serial speeders have spent more time in court than this guy.

But he won a crowded 2022 Republican primary, one filled with far more qualified candidates for attorney general, because he had something they didn’t — Trump’s endorsement.

Hamadeh could win, Dems would cheer

Hamadeh fell just short of beating Democrat Kris Mayes but in Maricopa County, he was soundly sent packing.

Yet a Hamadeh challenge could spell trouble for Mitchell, never mind that she’s an experienced, law-and-order prosecutor.

“In a grievance-filled Republican primary, is that what the voters want?” Republican consultant Barrett Marson asked. “I think it’ll be a very challenging primary for the sitting county attorney. One that she can win, but it’ll be a difficult race for sure.”

No doubt, Hamadeh, should he run, will have Democrats cheering him on.

They’ll be dusting off last year’s playbook — the one that propelled Democrats past their MAGA opponents and into all the key statewide posts — and dreaming of the day when they might finally seize control of the nation’s third largest prosecutorial agency.

This, as the Republican Party is busy chewing up and potentially spitting out one of its few winners.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @LaurieRoberts.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Abe Hamadeh vs. Rachel Mitchell in 2024? Democrats would love it