A Gilbert Republican tried to denounce dirty campaigning. It led to a physical confrontation

What was intended to be a denunciation of dirty campaign tactics triggered an angry confrontation at a Gilbert political meeting, leading to a police investigation and highlighting the tensions in a competitive legislative race.

At the center of the dispute are comments by Rep. Laurin Hendrix, R-Gilbert, about information he received that suggested he could tie one of his opponents to the "Gilbert Goons," a teenage gang that has terrorized other teens in the southeast Valley.

Hendrix said he told a meeting of the Legislative District 14 Republicans that he rejected the overture, never used the information, and held up the tip as an example of how nasty and negative campaigns have become.

But the comments angered Nathan Hunsaker, husband of the legislative candidate in question, Lalani Hunsaker. Along with his brother, Nathan Hunsaker tried to shout down Hendrix.

Andrew Adams, the chairman of the East Valley district, intervened. He moved the protesters out of the room and told them they could not reenter the meeting because they were "trespassing" and violating the district rules to maintain decorum.

At this point, Adams told The Arizona Republic, "Nathan Hunsaker gets on his tiptoes and headbutts me." He said he filed a complaint with the Gilbert police, which confirmed the department has already done an initial investigation and forwarded the matter to detectives to pursue further.

Hendrix said he was interviewed by Gilbert police on Tuesday afternoon.

Video provided by Adams from the church where the meeting was held showed people milling about the lobby of Redeemer Bible Church. There is a moment where a man is seen lunging toward a man identified as Adams, but head-to-head contact was not captured on the video.

Lalani Hunsaker, in text messages to The Republic, denied there was any physical attack. She complained that Adams is a "political tyrant" who has tried to silence her campaign and her supporters. She is one of five Republicans running in the July 30 primary election for two House seats.

She also charged Hendrix has resorted to "baseless lies and slander" in an attempt to keep his legislative seat.

"My children are impeccable members of this community," she wrote. "Any suggestion otherwise is as laughable as Laurin Hendrix and his failed political career."

Hendrix said the information he received — and did not use — was a photo of one of Hunsaker's sons with two other boys, all in football uniforms. The tip he got was the two other boys were members of the Gilbert Goons.

Hendrix repeated that he rejected the information, which he said was brought to him at his legislative office. He said he even reached out to Lalani Hunsaker through an intermediary to suggest she might want to keep such photos off of social media.

“I never one time said her kid is a Gilbert Goon," Hendrix said. He added he regrets citing the event as an example of the negative tone of politics today, and should have used a better example.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Hendrix said he felt sorry for anyone at Monday's meeting who might have feared for their safety. Violence has no place in political debate, he wrote, especially in the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

"I am calling on the judicial authorities to make it clear that violence will not be accepted or overlooked in Arizona," he wrote. "I trust that they will do what is right within the bounds of law. I hope the people of Arizona's legislative districts send a clear message that they do not approve of violent or intimidating behavior at the ballot box July 30.”

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @maryjpitzl .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A Gilbert Republican tried to denounce dirty campaigning. It led to a physical confrontation