Democratic Congressional Candidate Claims Multiple Men Raped Her

In Arizona, a Democratic congressional candidate, Bernadette Greene-Placentia, says she was raped while trying to repair campaign signs this summer. pic.twitter.com/1zSG0CvUVV

— PBS News (@NewsHour) October 7, 2026

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The Democratic candidate for Arizona’s 8th congressional district, which includes parts of Phoenix and nearby areas including Sun City, was out putting up and fixing political signage and was hit in the back of her head by two unknown men while walking back to her vehicle, the incident report says. Greene-Placentia lost consciousness and does not recall how she was hit in the head or how many times, according to the report, which says she and investigators have not been able to determine the exact location of the attack.

She woke up to the pain of one of the men concluding intercourse while holding her down, according to the report. She “described having bruises on her arms from being held down.”

The other man then raped her, the report says. She said she also recalls seeing her feet as she fought back by kicking.

Greene-Placentia does not remember what the men looked like or what they were wearing, according to the report.

“She only recalled one of them wearing black boots and having small feet,” the incident report reads.

She recalled to investigators that one of the men said “democratic b*tch” at some point during the incident, the report states. But, on Wednesday, she said she could not be sure what she had heard, according to The New York Times.

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I’m absolutely heartbroken to hear this news, and I’m thinking of Bernadette and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

We cannot tolerate political or sexual violence in any form. Those responsible must be held accountable.

Thank you for speaking out,…

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 7, 2026

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She ultimately decided to speak publicly because she felt remaining silent conflicted with her campaign’s message of standing up for all Arizonans.

“I never imagined I would have to tell this story, but I know I am far from the only woman who has lived through something like this,” she said in a statement. “Too many survivors carry these experiences silently. I am speaking out because I want them to know they are seen, they are heard, and they are not alone.”

“Me coming forward is me taking my power back,” the Democrat said in a separate interview with MS NOW.

She won the Democratic primary in July with more than 65 percent of the vote. She is looking to unseat Hamadeh in a district he won by 13 percentage points in 2024.

The candidate said she has no plans to suspend her campaign but has stopped repairing signs alone late at night, a practice she previously did to avoid Arizona’s intense daytime heat.

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