Arizona GOP Says There Will Be No Change in Administration of 2024 GOP Presidential Primary Election

by: Michael Patrick Leahy
2023-09-05
Source: The Arizona Sun Times
09/06/2023

Arizona Capitol building by Gage Skidmore is licensed under Flickr Creative Commons

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Jeff DeWit said on Friday in an email to the members of the Arizona GOP Executive Committee the party will not change the method of election administration for the party’s March 2024 GOP Presidential Primary, rejecting a proposal made to the state party six days earlier by the Maricopa County Republican Party to replace the state government administered primary election with a “firehouse primary,” one administered by the party itself rather than the state government.

“I am reaching out to provide a crucial update considering the resolution proposed by the Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) on August 26th, 2023, six days ago. This resolution insisted that the AZGOP withdraw from the Presidential Preference Primary, set for March 19, 2024, by September 1, 2023. This deadline was a mere six days after the MCRC first told anyone that this resolution, or idea, even existed,”DeWit said, adding:

First, I want to point out very clearly that my job is not to personally weigh judgment on a matter which is to be brought for a vote of the Executive Committee. I will not stand in the way of any idea that could improve election integrity, and I believe we all want to see fair and honest elections. It is easy to predict my actions, I will always do as state law and our Bylaws dictate.

I approached this with a mindset of collaboration, and a desire to see if it was a doable thing. Upon detailed consultation with our Legal Counsel, it is now evident that acting on this resolution would breach our bylaws, placing the AZGOP at risk of countless legal complications. The rushed resolution was proven to be problematic and an invitation for entities such as the Department of Justice to intervene in our election. To do something this large requires more time than six days, as our legal counsel has clearly explained.