Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom PerezThomas Edward PerezClinton’s top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labor’s ‘wasteful spending and mismanagement” at Workers’ Comp MORE on Tuesday swiftly condemned former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s (R) entrance into the Arizona Senate race, targeting Republicans for supporting both Arpaio and former Alabama Senate candidate Roy MooreRoy Stewart MooreSessions goes after Tuberville’s coaching record in challenging him to debate The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip Sessions fires back at Trump over recusal: ‘I did my duty & you’re damn fortunate I did” MORE (R).

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon by the DNC, Perez accused the GOP of not being able to find better candidates for office than an “accused child molester” and a “racist former sheriff.”

“It’s a sad and disturbing sign of moral decay in the modern Republican Party that a racist former sheriff and convicted criminal in Arizona and an accused child molester in Alabama are the best they have to offer,” Perez said in the statement.

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“Joe Arpaio is one of our nation’s most notorious agents of racism and bigotry. He has spent his career tearing apart immigrant families and devastating Latino communities, and he has no place in the U.S. Senate,” he added.

Moore, a former Alabama judge, was defeated in December by now-Sen. Doug Jones (D) in the state’s special election. Moore’s campaign was dogged by allegations that Moore engaged in sexual misconduct with teenage girls when he was a district attorney. Moore has denied the allegations.

Arpaio announced his candidacy earlier Tuesday, saying in a tweet that his main reason for running was to support President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s agenda in the Senate. Arpaio will run for the seat to be vacated by Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeGOP lawmakers stick to Trump amid new criticism Kelly holds double-digit lead over McSally in Arizona: poll Trump asserts his power over Republicans MORE (R-Ariz.), who last year announced that he would not seek reelection.

“I am running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again,” Arpaio tweeted Tuesday.

I am running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again. https://t.co/ANppBdDOtp

Click Here: Golf special— Sheriff Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) January 9, 2018

Arpaio’s only challenger in the state Republican primary so far is former state Sen. Kelli Ward (R), who is endorsed by former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, but Rep. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyGOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police No evidence of unauthorized data transfers by top Chinese drone manufacturer: study Senate Democratic campaign arm launches online hub ahead of November MORE (R-Ariz.) is also expected to jump into the race.

Trump won the state by 4 points in 2016. Arizona has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988.