It was a festive Friday night of pizza, poultry and politics at Native Grill & Wings in Maricopa.  

Five Republican candidates shared their love of God, guns and family values to an adoring standing-room audience packed inside the restaurant’s party room. 

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is running a U.S. Senate bid against unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake in the July 30 Republican primary. The former TV personality recently shied away from a televised debate with Lamb, saying she wanted to focus on the general election against Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Phoenix.

An election-denying talking head, Lake also seeks the seat vacated by Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who quietly bolted from the Democratic Party last year in an unpopular move.

Besides his usual stump speech that cites border security, the economy, crime and national security as the top issues facing the country, Lamb made it clear that he, unlike Lake, is not going to bow down and kiss the ring of the GOP’s Washington, D.C., establishment. 

A Hidden Valley resident who said he was a former Missouri police chief urged Lamb to abide by “Constitution first” and independent “honor” over Republican Party establishment. 

Lamb agreed. 

“As a sheriff I’ve already experienced a lot of this,” Lamb said. “You have a lot of people come and try to tell you the way you should be. When I set out to do this race I went to Washington, I sat down with these people, told them that I intended on running.”

“And we watched as they tried to pigeonhole your campaign,” Lamb continued. “And that is ultimately why we said, ‘We going to do this race the way we’re going to do it. And we don’t want Washington, D.C., money. I don’t want endorsements from Washington, D.C. They can stay there. Much the way I have run this race have I shown you that I have no problem standing on my own two feet.” 

Following a rousing round of cheers and applause, Lamb added, “Size 12s.” 

Lamb, who promoted Ross Teeple to lieutenant, endorsed Teeple to succeed him as sheriff. 

During the course of Lamb’s presentation, a woman in the audience shouted, “We will pray for you!”  

“And I will pray for you,” Lamb responded. 

The GOP gathering in Maricopa drew four other hopefuls, both incumbents and newcomers: 

• State Rep. and House majority whip Teresa Martinez of Casa Grande told the crowd: “I like Kari. I like her a lot, but I’m going to support Sheriff Lamb.” Martinez made it clear she’s angered by Republicans who “badge you as losing loyalty” or a “RINO,” which she said she’s experiencing in the House. On another highly heated topic, Martinez held tight to her commitment to push for state dollars to upgrade SR 347. 

• Also attending the event was state House candidate Chris Lopez, a Casa Grande native running on the Martinez ticket who said he was dedicated to upholding conservative values. He calls for safe neighborhoods, a secure border and the ability to provide Arizona families with school choice. He said he believes a thriving economy means limited government, low taxes and an affordable cost of living. “I plan on taking, just as Teresa has, a business sense and a self-awareness, a common sense, to the capital,” Lopez said.  

• “Ronald Reagan Republican” Teeple, a Cactus Forest resident whose catchy campaign slogan is “Teeple for the People,” said he wants to keep Pinal County “free and safe.” Agreeing with his boss, Lamb, Teeple said the U.S.-Mexican border “completely porous” and ripe for a terrorist attack. “It wasn’t if we are going to have another terrorist attack, it’s when,” he said was his conclusion after attending a law enforcement seminar in Washington, D.C. He said 4 in 5 people who cross the border do not qualify for asylum. 

• Former Maricopa Vice Mayor Rich Vitiello, who left the council in April to run for a Pinal County supervisor seat in District 1, hammered home the fact he has been all over the district, especially in and around Maricopa, which he said is in sore need of representation. “My office will be right here,” Vitiello said, speaking on his birthday. “It’ll be here 24-7.” He urged Republicans in the audience to “seriously look at independents” as voters who can make a difference in all local and state GOP races. “Talk to your independents, talk to your reasonable Democratic friends,” he said. “We really need to turn people to the truth.”