<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A candidate for Congress in Arizona reported that she was raped in August while repairing campaign signs.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bernadette Greene-Placentia, the Democratic candidate for the state’s 8th Congressional District, stated that the incident occurred around 2 a.m. on a Friday evening in a parking lot during her routine of repairing campaign signs, which she does to avoid the heat and traffic.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Greene-Placentia, who is challenging Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ), told the Phoenix New Times that she does not remember much of the incident but recalled being hit over the head and waking up to a man on top of her. She informed her campaign staff about the incident on the following Sunday and told her husband the day after. Greene-Placentia reported the assault to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office two weeks later, citing embarrassment as a reason for the delay.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">She reported that the assault occurred near 99th Avenue and Bell Road in Sun City and mentioned experiencing vaginal bleeding for three days afterward, possible concussion symptoms, and bruising from the assault.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Witnesses who interacted with Greene-Placentia during the two-day period before she disclosed the incident noted that she appeared unwell.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Arizona lawmakers responded to the news, with Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) expressing his heartbreak and emphasizing the need to hold those responsible for such violence accountable. The Arizona House Democrats’ social media account also expressed their support for Greene-Placentia.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) stated that the incident was horrific and expressed her solidarity with Greene-Placentia.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Greene-Placentia is running against Hamadeh in the upcoming November election. The district is rated solid Republican by the Cook Political Report.</p>