Three candidates for chair of the Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP) participated in a forum hosted by Republican Legislative District (LD) 2 Monday evening at Dream City Church in Phoenix. All three spoke critically of the outgoing chair, Gina Swoboda, who is resigning to run for Congress in Arizona’s Congressional District 1.
Bob Branch said the Republican National Committee (RNC) turned against Arizona Republicans due to Swoboda’s leadership, noting that at the annual RNC convention, Arizona’s delegation was the only battleground state forced to sit at the very back of the convention.
Pam Kirby highlighted her work recruiting good people to run for school boards. She said she observed various factions of the Republican Party working together well during elections, including curing 10,000 ballots.
Sergio Arellano said he was tasked by the Republican Party to recruit voters, and said he spearheaded an effort that got 65,000 Democrats to switch their voter registration to Republican. When he was asked what was the biggest reason Republicans lose winnable races, he responded, “Division and infighting within our party.” He said the reason Republicans are behind 3% is due to unfilled positions at the AZGOP, referencing Swoboda’s leadership. He said Swoboda tries to do everything herself.
Similarly, Kirby said the biggest structural weakness in the AZGOP is Swoboda’s lack of communication. Kirby reiterated Arellano’s point about infighting, stating, “The turf battles have to stop.” She said unlike Swoboda who says she can’t do things, Kirby would tell the lawyers and consultants they work for her, “Don’t tell me no, tell me how.”
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