52-year-old Democratic candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia, in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, on October 7 spoke out about her trauma and said two men raped her in early August while she was trying to repair a sagging campaign sign in a parking lot in Sun City, Arizona, around 2 a.m. on August 14.
“What happened to Bernadette is horrific. No one should ever be subjected to this kind of violence — especially while engaging in the democratic process,” Rep. Greg Stanton condemned the alleged attack. “I spoke to her today to thank her for her extraordinary courage in coming forward. Whoever did this must be held fully accountable.”
An Arizona Democrat says she was knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted while repairing campaign signs overnight this summer. In this video from the Associated Press, Bernadette Greene-Placentia shares her account of the attack and its aftermath. Full story: https://t.co/BmnSnghvRf
— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) October 9, 2026
According to Placentia, she had gone alone to a public parking lot in Sun City to fix a campaign sign that was sagging, and the last thing she could remember was being struck on the head, losing consciousness and awaking to being sexually assaulted. She said her memory of the night is hazy and she never heard the men approach.
“This was a cruel and cowardly attack, and it has no place in Arizona,” Gov. Katie Hobbs’ spokesperson, Liliana Soto said.
“No one should have to fear for their safety, or the safety of the people they love, while serving their community,” Soto added.
That statement to Phoenix News Time, Soto said the Governor was outraged by the sexual assault against Greene-Placentia.
No arrest or identification of the alleged suspect has been made, although the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed deputies took a report on Aug. 31 and that the investigation remains active.
Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped by two men while repairing a campaign sign https://t.co/5CCawswH0i
— RELISH WIRE NEWS (@relishwirenews) October 9, 2026
Placentia on her account said she usually went out with her husband, a staff member or volunteer, but went alone that night. “Oh, well, I’ll just go out there and fix that,” she recalled thinking.
She had chosen to visit some of her sagging campaign banners at night because it was more comfortable for her and due to the heavy, weeping sun in Phoenix during the daytime. According to her, the nighttime method was a routine she had always followed all summer. But this time she had not made it a few yards before the alleged attackers hit her on the head, which led to her blacking out, and by the time she woke up she found a stranger on top of her.
Greene-Placentia told Phoenix New Times that as she struggled to open her eyes, the first attacker withdrew his penis and made a derogatory comment. She recalled hearing him mutter something ending in “-ic bitch” and followed by “not a very good f**k.” Although she could not be certain of his exact words, she said her mind interpreted the remark as “Democratic bitch.”
While still semi-conscious, she recalled that the second man then approached and used his weight to push her left leg farther apart. Placentia said she began swinging her foot at him in an attempt to fight back. As he moved away, she heard him say, “Not even worth it.” She remembered that the second man wore black boots and had small feet. The two men then left her lying face down in the parking lot.
Placentia said her face is on the signs “I’m pretty sure they knew who I was,” she said. She could not determine if the motive was political affiliated or not
“No woman should be targeted regardless of whether it’s for political reasons or just because they’re predators,” she added
Republican Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, her opponent in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District race, called the allegations disturbing and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and obtain all available camera footage to prosecute the case, saying no American should be victimized in their own community.
After the incident, Placentia did not seek medical care or undergo a forensic examination, she rather washed her clothes. And further described bruises and bleeding. Reports of her sheriff’s office interview say deputies observed faded bruises but did not photograph them at the time.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken to hear this news, and I’m thinking of Bernadette and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Sen. Ruben Gallego. said in a X statement.
“We cannot tolerate political or sexual violence in any form. Those responsible must be held accountable” he added. Thank you for speaking out, Bernadette. We’re with you,” he added.
“You know, do you really think anyone’s going to fight harder for you than someone whose dad died waiting to get care at the VA, whose mom died rationing her insulin?,” Placentia said.
“I’m kind of being a hypocrite cuz I’m saying I’m going to fight for Arizonans. I’m going to fight for these folks, but I’m not fighting for women who’ve been victims of sexual assault.” she added.
Greene-Placentia is not the first woman in American politics to publicly disclose that she was raped.
In 2019, Sen. Martha McSally revealed that a superior officer raped her while she was serving in the Air Force, years before she entered Congress. While attending college, Sen. Joni Ernst has also said she was raped by a former partner.
As a young woman, Rep. Gwen Moore has also spoken publicly about being raped, and shortly after losing a Democratic Senate primary in 2016, former Rep. Cori Bush said she was raped.
Their accounts document experiences of sexual violence among women who later held elected office, but they do not establish how common such experiences are among female politicians nationwide.
