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The move to censor these three Republicans – in addition to re-electing controversial President Kelli Ward – solidified the official party’s right-wing slide, while also reflecting deep rifts among Arizona Republicans over the future of the GOP, who suffered deadly defeats. to the polls in 2020 in this increasingly purple state.
All three Republicans are officially censored for what the State party described at its meeting as a variety of “failures”.
McCain, the widow of the late Senator John McCain, who supported Biden during the election, has been censored for supporting “leftist causes” and not supporting Trump.
Flake, a CNN contributor, was also convicted of supporting Biden in the election.
“Insane. This is insane,” said Glenn Hamer, former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party. “Parties that want to be successful bring people together and increase the number of people drawn to the party. What is happening with the AZ GOP leadership is exactly the opposite. It is self-destructive.”
Kirk Adams, a former state official and adviser to Ducey, called the actions descending “the loyalty hole.”
“What we get is a purity test, and that purity test is simple: Are you loyal to Donald Trump no matter what? If you aren’t, we’ll censor you.”
Ward appeared publicly indifferent to the warnings from the moderates, as she spoke to Arizona Republicans gathered at Dream City Church in Phoenix. The venue was closed to almost all journalists except for a few hand-picked outlets.
Ward ended his speech before the MPs vote for party chair with: “Make America Great Again!” She then presented a recorded audio message from Trump, in which the former president told members, “I give him my full and complete approval.”
Ward beat his challenger by 3 points in two rounds of voting.
Ducey’s political director, Sara Mueller, has dismissed the power of the state party’s actions, including censorship of the sitting governor. “These resolutions are of no consequence, and the people who support them have lost what little moral authority they once had,” Mueller said.
Flake tweeted a photo of him with McCain and Ducey at Biden’s inauguration, with the words “Good company.”
McCain could not be reached for immediate comment, but tweeted: “It is a great honor to be included in a group of Arizonans who have served our state and nation so well … and who, like my late husband John, were censored by AZGOP. I will wear this as a badge of honor. “
The late senator was censored in 2014 by the state government for what he then described as a liberal record.
The immediate actions appear to have little impact on the three Republicans. And there are signs some Arizona GOP voters may be upset after the U.S. Capitol uprising. Figures compiled by the Arizona Secretary of State’s office show that from January 6 to 20, more than 8,000 Republicans applied to change their party registration from Republican to Independent, Democrat or Libertarian. The Secretary of State’s office does not explicitly track party changes for reporting purposes, so it is not clear whether these trends are unique to this post-election cycle.
But Adams sees those registration numbers as a resounding siren that Trumpism has wreaked havoc on the future of this increasingly competitive state for the Republican brand.
“Many Republicans within the official AZ GOP apparatus have left their conservative leaders behind. They are now loyal to one man or one personality rather than a platform of ideas,” Adams said. “Maybe this fever will break. But if it doesn’t, that means bad news for Republicans seeking a job in this state.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated Kirk Adams’ last name.
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