(The Center Square) – The new Arizona GOP chairman says the most important issue facing Arizona Republicans and Arizonans is “the alarmingly radical Democratic Party.”
“They are so busy catering to a fringe that is increasingly militant and extreme while we’re trying to undo the damage done by the failed Biden administration’s policies,” Sergio Arellano told The Center Square.
The Arizona Republican Party recently chose Arellano as its newest leader.
State Committeemen of the Arizona Republican Party selected Arellano, a small business owner, over Pam Kirby, who was the Arizona GOP’s former executive director, by a vote of 761 to 621. Arellano started his term as chair immediately.
Arellano, who is the first Latino Arizona GOP chairman, is succeeding Gina Swoboda, who stepped down to run as a Republican for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.
Arellano pointed out that the media likes to talk about the division within the Arizona GOP, but he noted that he got elected “by a broad coalition of State Committeemen because they want unity, they want us focused on the real battles, and they want to win, [and] not be distracted by a few troublemakers who want us divided.”
He said the Arizona GOP doesn’t have any “‘big’ internal divisions,” but rather the party has some “high-priced consultants and activists who figured out how to make a lot of money off of infighting, so making sure they don’t whip up trouble to profit themselves will always be a necessary distraction.”
Despite these consultants and activists, the Arizona Republican Party will focus on the 85-90% of issues that members agree on and the party’s real opponents, “which is the Left,” the chairman said.
“If we stay engaged and united, we will win,” said Arellano, who is leading the Republicans as they prepare for the gubernatorial race and other statewide elections. The general election is Nov. 3.
Arellano told The Center Square that he has “less than one year to prepare and win statewide.”
“Anyone looking will probably notice that we are very intense and very focused. And we want to make sure our people have the access they deserve to what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and why,” Arellano said.
During the Arizona Republican primary elections, Arellano said the state party will remain neutral. The party has a “long-standing tradition” of remaining neutral in primaries, but it has been “broken from time to time,” he explained.
Republicans across Arizona should be the ones to determine who the party’s candidates will be in the general election, the chairman told The Center Square.
“Our job is to take those candidates and get them elected in November. I love my fellow Republicans and trust them to nominate the people who best represent our values and who can win,” he said.
According to Arellano, people will know the Arizona GOP has been successful in a year if the party is working hard statewide to elect Republicans.
“If you see that we’re funded and organized and visible with our message, then you’ll know we brought everyone together and are focused on winning elections,” he added.
