President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing whether to withdraw his “complete and total endorsement” of Arizona Republican congressional candidate Mark Lamb as allegations surrounding an alleged sex scandal continue to generate headlines.
According to a report published Friday, a source and adviser close to the White House said Trump’s team is increasingly concerned that the controversy surrounding Lamb could damage Republican chances in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District. The source reportedly pointed to the recent downfall of former Republican lawmaker Tony Gonzales as a major warning sign for the president’s political operation.
Gonzales resigned from Congress last month after admitting to an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide, becoming one of several politicians recently swept up in sex-related controversies that have rattled both parties. The report also noted that former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell recently resigned from Congress and suspended his California gubernatorial campaign after facing accusations of sexual misconduct, including allegations of drugging and rape, claims he has denied.
“So far, the only federal candidate who had the president’s endorsement and lost this cycle was Tony Gonzales following the revelations of his sexual abuse scandal, so they’re very sensitive to the same thing happening with Mark Lamb, who is facing similar accusations,” the source told the Daily Caller.
The adviser also reportedly suggested that Trump allies may already be eyeing another option in the race: Daniel Keenan, whom the source described as closely aligned with Trump and his political agenda.
The controversy surrounding Lamb intensified this week after the Arizona Republic published a report detailing alleged digital communications involving the former sheriff. According to the outlet, evidence reviewed by reporters allegedly showed Lamb engaging in intimate conversations and sexting over a period of years, including with women he reportedly met through campaign activity.
The Arizona Republic reported that some of the alleged messages included threats of prosecution should details of the conversations become public. The paper said interviews, screenshots, social media posts, emails, and chat records reviewed by reporters painted a picture at odds with the public image Lamb cultivated during his years in office.
The report alleged Lamb shared sexual messages and nude photographs with women while simultaneously presenting himself to voters as a family-focused conservative grounded in his Mormon faith.
Lamb has strongly denied the allegations. His campaign dismissed the claims as “baseless and harmful,” arguing the accusations are politically motivated attacks designed to derail his congressional bid.
Trump only endorsed Lamb last month in a Truth Social post backing his run for Arizona’s 5th District.
“Mark Lamb has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Congressman from Arizona’s 5th Congressional District – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote at the time.
The reported uncertainty surrounding that endorsement highlights how Republican leaders are increasingly cautious about scandals overshadowing campaign messaging heading into another contentious election cycle. For many conservatives focused on border security, crime, and the rising cost of living, personal controversies involving candidates risk distracting from broader policy debates dominating the national conversation.
The political turbulence also comes as many voters continue expressing frustration with what they see as a culture of dysfunction and scandal in Washington, where public trust in elected officials has steadily eroded amid years of investigations, resignations, and bitter partisan conflict.
