Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) has been sworn in along with his fellow freshmen members of the U.S. House of Representatives. But before even taking the oath of office, Hamadeh garnered recognition as one of the “rising stars” in American policitcs “expected to emerge in 2025.”
In a report released on the last day of 2024, Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller pronounced Hamadeh as a rising star alongside fellow Republicans Vice President-elect JD Vance, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, and Vivek Ramaswamy. He also gave the same recogniation to Democrats like Governors Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Wes Moore of Maryland, along with Rep. Pat Ryan of New York and Senator Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland.
Hamadeh, a 33-year-old son of Syrian immigrants, retired Army Reserve Captain & Intelligence Officer, and former Maricopa County Prosecutor enjoyed a massive resurgence in Arizona politics after a razor thin-280 vote defeat in the 2022 race for state Attorney General, a result mired in controversy and serious allegations of disenfranchisement and mismanagement.
He arose victorious in a raucous 8-way primary challenge for the District 8 Congressional seat that saw an unprecedented double-endorsement by President-elect Donald Trump, who supported both Hamadeh and runner-up Blake Masters.
In the end, Hamadeh outperformed the rest of the AZGOP candidates on his way to soundly defeating his Democrat opponent Gregory Whitten in the November General Election.
Congratulations Congressman @AbrahamHamadeh on your swearing in today. Our country needs some rising stars right now. Godspeed Abe !
— Glendale Arizona FOP Lodge 12 (@GlendaleFOP12) January 3, 2025
In a statement about his powerful committee assignments, Hamadeh told Fox News Digital, “I am honored to serve on the Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees—two assignments I intentionally sought because our veterans and military deserve leaders who will fight for them. Putting America first starts with defending our homeland and honoring our veterans and their families.”
“Throughout my campaign, I made a promise to bring veterans’ issues to the forefront of our national priorities, and today, I am proud to fulfill that promise,” he added. “This is a ‘promises made, promises kept’ moment as I lead the charge to honor our military leaders, support those who have served our nation, and ensure our veterans receive the care and respect they’ve earned. Serving those who served us is not just my duty—it’s a privilege.”
Arizona Congresswoman Debbie Lesko’s eight-year tenure in the House of Representatives recently came to close. As she prepares to take office as a Maricopa County Supervisor, she shared a series of congressional speeches from her colleagues in the House congratulating her on her retirement and recounting her legislative accomplishments.
In an op-ed published by AZ Free News, Lesko looked back on her time in Congress noting her time various committees including Judiciary, Homeland Security, Rules, and Science, Space, and Technology. She also reflected on her time serving on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee along with the Homeland Security Subcommittee and the controversial Select Subcommittee on COVID-19.
Lesko wrote, “I strive to conduct myself honorably and in accordance with the desires of my district, and I will continue as long as I am in office. I will carry with me the memories of my service in the People’s House as long as I live. I appreciate all who have helped me to this point, and I will always be proud to be the U.S. Congresswoman from Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. May God continue to bless our great nation.”
From Christmas Eve through the weekend several members of Congress took the podium to address Lesko’s retirement including Rep. Virginia Cox (R-NC), who highlighted her as “one of the kindest and most forgiving people I’ve ever met in my life.” She added that Lesko forgave her, becoming emotional as she wished the Congresswoman well.
During my time in Congress, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and serve alongside many incredible women, including @virginiafoxx. Thank you, Congresswoman, for your kind words on my retirement. It’s been an honor to serve together inside these hallowed halls. pic.twitter.com/hQFX2rQUC2
Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) quipped that she initially met Lesko in a nail salon, eliciting laughs from her fellow Congress members. She noted that she never saw the Arizona Congresswoman “in a bad mood.” Fischbach alluded to Lesko’s upcoming service on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors saying, “I think that the people of Arizona and your county are going to be so incredibly well served, and you will do a wonderful job for them.”
It’s been a joy serving alongside @RepFischbach during my time in Congress. I would like to thank her for her kind words, steadfast conservatism, and friendship. pic.twitter.com/k9EQsag51T
Praise also came from members of the Arizona Congressional delegation with Rep. Juan Ciscomani telling the House that Lesko “is a conservative,” but is “just not angry about it.”
It’s been an honor to serve the great state of Arizona alongside @RepCiscomani. We have done some amazing work together, and I am very appreciative of his kind words. pic.twitter.com/UfcRtq9s9Y
Congressman Andy Biggs told the gathered members that he first heard of Lesko when she served on a school board. He credited her with courage during her work on pension reform in the Arizona legislature. Biggs also joked at the reduction in staff that Lesko now faces, saying she’ll have just “one and a half staffers,” in her new role before being overcome with emotion.
Thank you to my longtime friend and fellow Arizonan, @RepAndyBiggsAZ, for your kind words. It has been an honor serving the people of Arizona with you in the U.S. House of Representatives, and I am thankful for our many years of friendship. pic.twitter.com/iM9RRZKIzx
Rep. David Schweikert echoed the sentiment of Ciscomani when he exclaimed, “Look, one of the magic things about Debbie Lesko is that she has proven, you can be conservative and not be angry about it! You can actually be joyful and kind and sweet and just a decent human being!” He stressed Lesko’s calm demeanor in contrast to his anger at times and remarked on her avoiding traveling with a laptop for a “stack of paper” on regular flights to and from Washington, D.C. He quipped, “They do make these things called laptops…”
Thank you to my fellow Arizonan, @RepDavid for your kind words and optimism for our country. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve our great state and nation with you and I am happy to be able to call you a friend. pic.twitter.com/NaFpo2fiws
Noting that Maricopa County is the fourth most populated county in the nation, Schweikert recalled his time as County Treasurer and added that he missed “those day when you could actually do things.”
It is hard to believe that in a few short months, my time in the U.S. Congress will conclude. As I look back on my time in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the rest of my life, I am filled with gratitude for the journey that led me to this point. I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to represent Arizona’s 8th Congressional District in one of the most consequential periods in our nation’s history. That reality will never be lost on me.
I didn’t always have this success in my life. Over thirty years ago, I left an abusive husband and became a single mom with a young daughter. At times, I had no money and no place to live. I never would have dreamed in a million years that I would someday become a member of Congress and the voice for thousands of men, women, and children in the halls of our nation’s Capitol, where so many American icons have walked.
Yet, God has been so good to me. I remarried, had two more children, and now have six grandchildren. My family means the world to me.
My journey into public service began many years ago, when I started volunteering in my children’s school. I realized there, in those classrooms filled with impressionable minds, that to effect change and to ensure that the next generation received the best-possible education, parents such as myself needed to run for office to make a difference in our communities. I ran for school board and lost, but the lessons I learned from this experience motivated me to stay in the game. Too much was at stake for my family and in my state, and I would not give up.
Two years later, I ran for the Arizona State Legislature and won. I ultimately served nine years in the Arizona State House and Senate and loved serving the people in the Phoenix West Valley. I became the Senate President Pro-Tempore, following in the footsteps of the late-great U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also served in Arizona Senate leadership. I led on many key issues for the future of our state, including school choice, pension reform, the right to life, border security, and economic prosperity.
I had no immediate plans to run for higher office, but life often throws unexpected curveballs that change one’s calculations. In December 2017, my congressman unexpectedly resigned. After much prayer and conversation with my family, I decided to run for office and beat eleven guys in the contested primary election! Now here I am, serving more than 6 years in Congress. Who would have thought I’d be where I am today in Washington, D.C., when over thirty years ago I was just struggling to get by. Only in America could this happen to any man, woman, or child.
Every day in this job has been an immense privilege. When I drive up to the Capitol, I reflect on all the men and women who have walked these halls, debated our nation’s most important laws, and made decisions that have affected generations of Americans. Being a representative of the people is a great privilege I will never take for granted.
Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked hard to represent the desires of my district and to give a voice to my constituents. I have served on several committees in this body, including Judiciary, Homeland Security, Rules, and Space, Science and Technology. I was the ranking member on a Homeland Security Subcommittee, and I have had the privilege of serving recently on the Select Subcommittee on COVID-19. Over my tenure, I’ve had multiple bills signed into law, and more that have passed out of the House.
I’m especially grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, where I have advocated for consumer-focused energy policies that provide freedom and prosperity to countless Americans. I will always fight for the freedoms and liberties that have made this nation great, and Republicans have done that – and more – in this committee.
I have always been committed to carrying out our founders’ vision for representation in my service to my constituents. Since my time in the Arizona Legislature and throughout my tenure in Congress, I have listened to all who have a comment, grievance, or praise for me. I visit many businesses and events of all industries and purposes. I respond to those who take the time to write and call me. I communicate my positions on votes and current events in a reasonable manner and tone. I strive to conduct myself honorably and in accordance with the desires of my district, and I will continue as long as I am in office.
I will carry with me the memories of my service in the People’s House as long as I live. I appreciate all who have helped me to this point, and I will always be proud to be the U.S. Congresswoman from Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. May God continue to bless our great nation.
Congresswoman Debbie Lesko represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. She is the Maricopa County Supervisor-Elect for District 4.
Congressman-elect Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-8) released a new video via X in which he memorialized his victory against Democrat Greg Whitten in the November General Election.
In the video posted to X, Hamedeh told his supporters, “I’m ready to go to Washington, D.C. to fight. Fight with everything I’ve got for every single one of you here and everybody in this district and all across Arizona. Because despite the many problems we face, I still believe in America, because I believe in all of you. We took on so many powerful people in this race. And it showed us that the American people are stronger than the money that they have. And that’s what this victory is about. It’s a victory about all of you. It’s a victory for ‘We the people.’”
Hamadeh added, “I love you Arizona. I love my country, and I love you. And that’s why I’m with you now and forever. Thank you, Arizona. God bless you. God bless the United States. And let’s keep winning.”
As reported by the Arizona Daily Independent, Hamadeh pledged to “deliver real results, protect our freedoms, and restore America’s greatness.” He added, “This is a victory for every Arizonan who’s fed up with open borders, skyrocketing prices, and a political class that has sold our country out to the highest bidder. Arizona deserves a fighter who will go to Washington, drain the swamp, and actually put America First—and that’s exactly what I’m here to do.”
He remarked that his campaign “was a true grassroots movement fueled by Americans who believe our best days are still ahead.”
“After four years of Joe Biden in the White House and radicals trying to tear this country apart, we need strong, fearless leaders who will fight for the America we know and love. I am honored to be that fighter for Arizona’s 8th District,” Hamadeh said. “This isn’t just about policy; it’s about the courage to fight for the values that have made America the greatest country in the world.”
He told the outlet that his first priorities when he takes office are to deliver on his promises to “secure the border, bring down inflation, protect seniors and stand strong for America’s military and law enforcement.”
In a statement to AZ Free News Hamadeh said, “From day one of my campaign, I made a promise to Arizonans: to bring bold, courageous leadership to the table. As I set out to represent Arizona’s 8th District in Washington, my mission is clear—I will never stop fighting for my constituents, for future generations, and for the revitalization of the United States of America. Together, we will restore the strength and spirit of this great nation.”
In the Sunday post to X, Hamadeh wrote, “Arizona… I am with you, now and forever. Let’s roll.”
In the most up-to-date results from Arizona.vote, Hamadeh handily defeated Whitten by a thirteen-point margin or approximately 47,925 votes. That’s around the combined populations of Sun City West and New River, two of his smaller constituent cities.
