Maricopa GOP fails to organize own Presidential Preference Election in Arizona.
The Maricopa County GOP Fails in Bid for Independent Presidential Preference Election
The Maricopa County GOP’s last-minute attempt to hold its own presidential preference election has been unsuccessful. Instead, they will participate in a joint taxpayer-funded Democrat and Republican preference election in March 2024.
The Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) wanted to “reclaim election integrity” by running their own election, citing concerns about the 2020 election. However, their proposal was rejected by the Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP).
In a resolution, the MCRC expressed their desire for in-person voting and hand counting of results. They believed that this would ensure a fair and accurate election. However, AZGOP chairman Jeff DeWit deemed the plan unfeasible due to legal and logistical challenges.
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Craig Berland, MCRC chairman, expressed disappointment at the decision. He believed that the organizational challenges could be overcome and that legal experts supported their plan. However, AZGOP leadership stood firm in their rejection.
Arizona’s presidential preference election is different from its open primary. Only registered Democrat and Republican party members can participate, while unaffiliated voters cannot. Independents are eligible to vote in open primaries.
‘They Can Run Their Own Thing’
AZGOP chair Jeff DeWit rejected the MCRC’s request, and the state-run election will proceed as planned. However, DeWit offered a compromise solution. The Maricopa Republicans could run a parallel election under their own rules, serving as a test run and audit. However, the official votes would still need to be cast in the state-run election.
Some members of the MCRC criticized DeWit’s response, calling for his removal from office. Others, like former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, supported the MCRC’s proposal and expressed disappointment in DeWit’s decision.
Despite the disagreement, the joint taxpayer-funded preference election will take place in March 2024, with registered Republicans casting their votes for the party’s presidential nominee.
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