ARIZONA NEWS

Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer not interested in state GOP chair role

Dec 8, 2022, 7:17 AM | Updated: 7:41 am

(Photo by Jonathan Gibby/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Jonathan Gibby/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jonathan Gibby/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday she has been pursued as a potential successor to Kelli Ward as Arizona GOP chair, but she’s not interested in the job.

“I’ve paid my dues, I’m getting old and it’s an important job,” Brewer told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos and Chad Show.

“It needs to be taken upon the shoulders of somebody that has the time and the energy to do it.”

Ward was called to resign following multiple GOP losses in the 2022 general election and isn’t expected to seek reelection as party chair.

Brewer said the state Republican Party needs to be overhauled.

“People don’t even know where the Republican Party is. … This whole thing has to be rebuilt and it has to become the party of the big tent where everybody feels welcomed and everybody has a voice,” she said.

Others who had been courted for the position include former state lawmaker Steve Pierce and former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon.

“There’s people out there and we need a good leader and somebody with a strong spine and has a sense to be a peacekeeper. We need to bring everybody together,” Brewer said.

Despite knowing she has no intentions to replace Ward, Brewer said that if she taken over the position, she would have advice for Kari Lake, the Republican nominee who was defeated in the Nov. 8 general election.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea [to run again], unless she had some great philosophical changes made and what she wants to propose …” Brewer said.

“I just hope that we can get our politics all back in order and know what we stand for, and to carry on and do the right thing for the people of Arizona … We can’t continue down this path.”

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Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer not interested in state GOP chair role