Abe Hamadeh on Breaking Battlegrounds
Breaking Battlegrounds has followed Abe Hamadeh’s political career from the start. Hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone first interviewed him as a candidate for Arizona attorney general in 2021, then again during his 2022 general election campaign, and twice more as he ran for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, the seat he now holds.
This page collects all four Abe Hamadeh interviews in one place, giving a rare long view of an Arizona politician’s rise from first-time candidate to member of Congress.
Who Is Abe Hamadeh?
Abraham “Abe” Hamadeh is a Republican who has represented Arizona’s 8th Congressional District since 2025. He is an attorney, a U.S. Army intelligence officer, and a former prosecutor, and he is the first Arab American elected to Congress from Arizona. He is running for re-election in the general election on November 3, 2026.
He first gained statewide attention in 2022, when he lost the race for Arizona attorney general by just 280 votes, the closest election in state history. When Rep. Debbie Lesko announced her retirement, he ran for her open House seat in 2024 and won.
Hamadeh is a captain in the Army Reserve and served a 14-month deployment to Saudi Arabia. There, he negotiated military sales and managed training for Saudi domestic security forces, and he put in place new enhanced security vetting after the 2019 Pensacola terrorist attack. Before running for office, he was a prosecutor in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He earned a political science degree from Arizona State University and a law degree from the University of Arizona.
He is the son of immigrants whose families fled countries including Syria and Venezuela, and he grew up in the district he now represents. In Congress he sits on the House Armed Services Committee, and he secured more than 30 amendments in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Abe Hamadeh's Appearances on Breaking Battlegrounds
Podcast 197: Biden's Economy and Designating Drug Cartels as Terrorists (July 2024)
As a congressional candidate, Hamadeh explained how the Biden economy was hurting voters in Arizona’s 8th District and laid out his proposal to classify Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. Earlier in the episode, Henry Olsen analyzed the U.K. and French elections, and Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason covered the Democrats’ panic after the Biden-Trump debate.
Podcast 161: Abe Hamadeh's Future Endeavors (October 2023)
With guest host Michelle Ugenti-Rita filling in for Chuck Warren, Hamadeh joined Sam Stone shortly after launching his campaign for Arizona’s 8th District. He shared his plans for securing the southern border and holding government accountable. National Review writer Mike Coté added a historical perspective on policy and international affairs later in the episode.
Podcast 105: Abe Hamadeh on Securing Arizona's Border (October 2022)
Weeks before the 2022 general election, Hamadeh came back as the Republican nominee for Arizona attorney general to discuss border security and his priorities for the office. Filmmaker Jeff Hays joined later in the episode.
Podcast 45: Honest Abe Hamadeh on the Race for Arizona Attorney General (2021)
In his first Breaking Battlegrounds interview, Hamadeh introduced himself as a candidate for attorney general, just back from his Army Reserve deployment to Saudi Arabia. He talked about his military service, his work as a Maricopa County prosecutor, and why he was running.
What Abe Hamadeh Focuses On: Key Themes
- Border security and the cartels. Securing the southern border has been central to every one of his Breaking Battlegrounds interviews, including his proposal to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
- Election integrity. His 280-vote loss in 2022 made election integrity his signature issue, and he has backed bills on overseas voter residency and ranked-choice voting in Congress.
- National security. His intelligence background and seat on the Armed Services Committee shape his “peace through strength” approach.
- Arizona’s military communities. His NDAA amendments focused on Arizona’s bases and defense industry.
Related Arizona Episodes and Explainers
Follow Abe Hamadeh
- Official House website: house.gov
- Election profile: Abe Hamadeh on Ballotpedia
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abe Hamadeh?
A Republican U.S. representative for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, an Army Reserve intelligence officer, and a former Maricopa County prosecutor.
How close was Abe Hamadeh's 2022 attorney general race?
He lost by 280 votes, the closest election in Arizona history.
Is Abe Hamadeh running in 2026?
Yes. He is running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.
How many times has Abe Hamadeh been on Breaking Battlegrounds?
Four times, from 2021 to 2024.
