The race to win the Republican nomination for an eastern Arizona Senate seat has turned an already-icy relationship between legislators into a super-heated contest, with both sides accusing each other of distortion and misrepresentation.

State and county election officials are investigating television ads by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio that target Rick Romley and Tom Horne, both of whom are running against the sheriff’s political allies in separate races.

Complaints, threats and secret recordings have become the latest weapons of choice in the battle to become Maricopa County attorney.

Rick Romley’s GOP opponent in the Aug. 24 primary, Bill Montgomery, is dealing with criticism about a secretly recorded conversation in which he questions whether Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s mental abilities are declining and that Montgomery seems to take a softer stance on illegal immigration than he has taken publicly during his run for office.

Documents show that Maricopa County prosecutors had planned a more sweeping indictment against many county officials, including two supervisors and two judges, than the charges that were eventually filed.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is wasting no time in kicking off his re-election.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge in Phoenix has scheduled an initial hearing Monday in a lawsuit challenging the official description of a measure on state's November ballot.

The two Republican candidates for Arizona attorney general will face off Tuesday in a debate held by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission.