Progressive billionaire George Soros invested an additional $2 million in groups opposing Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an ardent supporter of Republican nominee Donald Trump, according to a Friday report from Politico.
Soros donated the $2 million to Maricopa Strong, a political action committee (PAC) devoted to ensuring Arpaio doesn’t win re-election, according to Politico. The group also benefited heavily from Laura and John Arnold, oil billionaires from Texas. The $2 million marks the latest Soros donation to the group.
Soros isn’t new to local elections, investing millions over the course of the last two years against conservative local prosecutors nationwide. This year, Soros-funded groups are engaged in close battles in Harris County, Texas, as well as Gilpin and Jefferson counties in Denver, Colorado.
“We made a major investment in the effort to defeat Joe Arpaio for two reasons,” said Michael Vachon, a Soros spokesperson. “First, Joe Arpaio has been a stain on the justice system in Arizona for more than two decades, violating civil rights and abusing his office. Second, his influence on the national conversation about immigration has been poisonous. This election is an opportunity to send a message: When matched on an even playing field, the values of justice and inclusion will defeat the politics of fear-mongering and intolerance.”
Arpaio responded with a $2.8 million dollar ad buy, using his national anti-immigration fame to help raise funds from outside of Maricopa County. Nonetheless, internal polling shows Arpaio behind Democratic challenger Paul Penzone.
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