PHOENIX (AZFamille) — Early election results show a close race between the two candidates vying to be Maricopa County’s next sheriff.

At 11 p.m., Republican Jerry Sheridan has a clear lead – with 547,762 votes, or a total of 51.3%, compared to his Democratic challenger Tyler Camp who has 520,130 votes, or approximately 48.7% of the vote. voice.

Kamp and Sheridan have extensive law enforcement experience and both have past controversies that were addressed during the election cycle, including in televised debates.

Sheridan worked for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 40 years and was second in command under Sheriff Joe Arpaio when a federal judge found the sheriff’s office guilty of racial profiling in 2013 for targeting Hispanics during road checks.

As a result, the judge appointed a federal observer to oversee the reforms. To date, it has cost taxpayers nearly $400 million.

Arpaio fought these reforms, with Sheridan at his side for many of these announcements.

“There were attorneys representing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. All of the sheriff’s deputies involved in the human trafficking unit all testified in court, before Judge Snow, that Jerry Sheridan had nothing to do with it. I have never ordered anyone to do anything related to the illegal immigration system, period. End of story,” Sheridan said.

Kamp, who switched parties to run as a Democrat, is a former Phoenix police lieutenant. He served over 20 years and retired in 2021.

After that, a policewoman who had denounced him filed a complaint. A city investigation found Kamp guilty of sexual harassment during his final year on the force, citing that Kamp sent dozens of inappropriate text messages while the officer was in training and under his chain of command.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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