(The Center Square) – The Arizona Republican Party has a new chairwoman following the resignation of Jeff DeWit.
Gina Swoboda, former third vice chair of the party and Arizona Secretary of State’s office employee under Katie Hobbs and Michelle Reagan was elected by a wide margin during the state party’s annual meeting at Dream City Church in Phoenix on Saturday.
Swoboda was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake.
“Massive Victory for The Trump and Lake-endorsed election integrity warrior Gina Swoboda wins Arizona Republican Chair position! Today is an incredible day for Election Integrity and expanding our party,” Lake said in a statement Saturday night.
“Arizona Republicans voted overwhelmingly to make Gina Swoboda our new Chairwoman going into the most important election in Arizona history. Gina is a national leader in election law. She is a grassroots hero, and also loved by Republicans of all stripes. Gina is battle-tested and a woman of great integrity—Gina understands that the White House and Senate Majority— and frankly, the survival of our Republic —runs through State 48. President Trump and I were proud to endorse Gina. We look forward to restoring Arizona’s faith in elections and winning in 2024,” she added.
Some moderate Republicans, including Lake’s former gubernatorial primary rival Karrin Taylor Robson, congratulated Swoboda on her victory, as she is set to lead the party through the contentious 2024 election.
“Congratulations to my friend [Gina Swoboda]!” Robson tweeted. “Gina is a true conservative fighter & I’m thrilled to welcome her to the helm of our State Party! It’s now time for ALL Republicans to unite & focus on beating Biden, Ruben Gallego & the Democrats in the state legislature in November.”
As Swoboda is an appointed precinct committeeman and not an elected one, there were questions regarding the party’s bylaws at Saturday’s meeting on whether or not she was eligible, but state committee members ultimately decided she was able to run.
Her predecessor, Jeff DeWit, was elected to a two-year term last January but stepped down last week following an audio recording release of a conversation between him and Lake. DeWit told Lake in February there were people “back east” who wanted to offer Lake other opportunities or money to prevent her from jumping into the Senate race. In his resignation letter, he alleged that Lake’s campaign threatened to release more audio if he didn’t leave the position, but Lake’s team said this was a false accusation, The Center Square reported.
Trump was scheduled to speak at the party’s “Freedom Fest” event on Friday night, but he canceled citing court obligations in New York earlier that day. The entire event event up being canceled despite other speakers being on the roster, including Lake, and the party is issuing refunds to ticket holders.