Joe Arpaio announced on social media Sunday that he will seek another term as sheriff of Maricopa County in 2020. Arpaio previously served as the county's sheriff for 24 years.

Arpaio noted the date of his announcement, Aug. 25, is the anniversary of the presidential pardon granted by President Trump and his wife's birthday.

Arpaio, 87, lost the most recent election in 2016 by 13 percentage points, to Democrat Paul Penzone.

In a statement posted via Twitter, Arpaio said, "On this day, August 25, 2019, after consultation and approval from my wife of 61 years, Ava, I have decided to run to be re-elected Sheriff. Watch out world! We are back!”

He vowed to reopen the Tent City jail, reinstate his sheriff's posse "and continue to enforce all Arizona laws that deal with drug trafficking, sex trafficking and other crimes associated with the border and illegal immigration."

Arpaio's 24 years in office were marked by controversy, with tens of millions of dollars in legal expenses from a racial profiling case, among other high profile incidents that had a large price tag for Maricopa County taxpayers.

Arpaio eventually was convicted for criminal contempt of court in the racial profiling case, but Trump pardoned him in 2017. The pardon was cheered by Arpaio's supporters, but received widespread criticism, including from then-U.S. Sen. John McCain.

The announcement of a return to politics comes as border and immigration issues have returned to the top of the national agenda. Trump is expected to feature those topics prominently in his reelection campaign, as Democrats push their own agenda on those issues.

It also follows Arpaio's loss in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate last year. Arpaio came in third in the race, behind Martha McSally and Kelli Ward, respectively.

On social media, prominent Arizona Republicans were mostly silent about Arpaio's announcement. Wendy Rogers, a Republican who has unsuccessfully sought several offices and who is now running for the Legislature, expressed support.

Democrats also were relatively quiet. State Rep. Raquel Terán, D-Phoenix, a vocal Arpaio critic, posted a simple message on Twitter in Spanish: "Pena Ajena." The phrase roughly translates to expressing embarrassment for someone else.