Arizona Democratic Candidate Discloses Sexual Assault While Fixing Campaign Sign

Democratic congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia said she was attacked and raped while walking to a damaged campaign sign in a Sun City parking lot early Friday morning. She recalled being struck on the head, left face-down in her SUV with the trunk open, and experiencing bruises and a suspected concussion. The assault, which also caused three days of vaginal bleeding, was reported to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office two weeks after it occurred.

Greene-Placentia stopped repairing signs at night and told campaign staff and her husband about the assault before going public, saying it reinforced her commitment to advocate for women victims of sexual assault. Her opponent, Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh, has not commented. She continues her campaign, urging donors and volunteers to support her message despite the trauma.