Fifteen days and a 140-acre property in rural Michie, Tennessee, sparked a bitter residency fight during Arizona’s primary season.
Rep.-elect Mark Lamb dismissed claims that he has been residing in Tennessee following his purchase of a ranch there rather than in his congressional district, stating this during a Wednesday appearance on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.
“When I heard that I thought it was the silliest thing, and I can’t believe that people actually listen to that. Yes, we have a ranch in Tennessee, and I’m thankful for all the free advertising we got for it,” Lamb told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Wednesday.
According to its online platform, the 140-acre Lamb Ranch operates as a family-run enterprise in rural Michie, Tennessee, featuring cattle management, event hosting, and cabin rentals. The former Pinal County sheriff said that his children and grandchildren live at the ranch and run it.
Despite appearances in multiple videos showing him at the ranch, Lamb maintained he has spent only 15 days at the location since purchasing it earlier this year.
“I live in San Tan Valley, Arizona, and now obviously I’ll be living part time here in Washington, D.C., doing this job. And, of course, I will visit Tennessee because that’s where my kids and grandkids live,” Lamb said.
Political opponents quickly seized on the out-of-state holding throughout the congressional race. Joseph Raetzer, campaign manager for Daniel Keenan, Lamb’s primary opponent in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, accused Lamb of perjury regarding sworn statements he made in a disclosure form, citing the Tennessee property in a May statement.
“We invite Mark Lamb to come clean and explain why he didn’t get sent to prison despite committing such an obvious crime, but we’ve heard he’s too busy putting down roots in Tennessee, where he’s building his new home,” Raetzer said.
The controversy persisted even after Lamb, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, defeated Keenan in the GOP primary.
“He wants us to believe that the American Dream is a $3 million ranch, 1,500 miles away from here. That’s not what we’re hearing at the doors,” Democratic nominee Elizabeth Lee told reporters in August, according to The Arizona Republic.
“People are worried about how to get a first house, let alone bragging about the second one,” Lee said.
Controversies surrounding personal conduct published by The Arizona Republic ultimately failed to block Lamb from winning the East Valley seat held by Rep. Andy Biggs for the last decade. Biggs ran for governor instead of reelection but lost to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Reflecting on orientation events in Washington, Lamb criticized political consultants who profit from pushing candidates to spend money on sensationalized advertising.
“I think the American people are sick and tired of it,” he said Wednesday.
“My family, my wife and I had to sit there and be lied about, and there will be people in my district who I will never convince that I’m not the person that my opponent portrayed me to be. And it is sad that somebody has to go through it,” Lamb said.
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