ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona Republicans elect Jeff DeWit as new party chair

Jan 28, 2023, 3:46 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2023, 11:48 am
(Facebook Photo/Jeff DeWit)...
(Facebook Photo/Jeff DeWit)
(Facebook Photo/Jeff DeWit)

PHOENIX — Former state treasurer Jeff DeWit was elected chair of the Arizona Republican Party on Saturday by the GOP state committee.

DeWit succeeded former Gov. Doug Ducey as treasurer in 2015 and was named the chief operations officer for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during his campaign in 2016. DeWit also served as chief financial officer of NASA starting in 2018.

He was endorsed for state GOP chair by proponents of Trump’s conspiracy that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, including defeated Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and defeated secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem.

Arizona Reps. Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Debbie Lesko also endorsed DeWit for party chair.

He won with 71% of the vote, according to reports.

“I’m going to work for you and we’re going to unify,” DeWit said after winning. “And we’re going to get back to beating Democrats and winning elections.”

DeWit takes the reins from Kelli Ward, who was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2021.

Ward’s time as party leader involved numerous scandals as she pushed for Trump’s 2020 election defeat to be overturned.

She pressured Republicans on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to investigate unsupported claims of fraud before election results were certified and allegedly signed a document falsely claiming she was a true Arizona elector, despite Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

Ward asserted her Fifth Amendment right during a deposition of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol after the Supreme Court denied her request to not turn over phone records.

Republicans lost critical races during the Nov. 8 election including governor, senator, secretary of state and attorney general, and GOP primary election gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson urged Ward to resign.

State Democrats, meanwhile, elected Yolanda Bejarano as its new party chair on Saturday.

The 2024 election includes several races with national implications. Arizona is likely to be a battleground in the presidential race, and independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat is also on the ballot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(Twitter Photo/@USDA)...
Alex Weiner

Arizona county allocated over $340K in federal funding for wildfire defense programs

The Biden administration on Monday announced nearly $200 million in funding for wildfire protection projects in 22 states, including Arizona.
10 hours ago
(Chandler Barbecue and Beer Festival Photo)...
KTAR.com

Holy smokes! Chandler Barbecue and Beer Festival to fire up at Tumbleweed Park

More than 30 masters of grilling bring the heat this weekend at the annual Chandler Barbecue and Beer Festival.
10 hours ago
(Brookfield Residential Photo)...
KTAR.com

Developer opens doors to 2 neighborhoods in Avondale master-planned community

Home builder Brookfield Residential announced the opening of two neighborhoods in Avondale at the master-planned community of Alamar. 
10 hours ago
(DEA Photo)...
Taylor Tasler

Valley students taking peer-to-peer approach when raising awareness for fentanyl

A group of students at Valley schools are working together to raise awareness of the deadly effects of fentanyl.
10 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/US Border Patrol, Tucson Sector)...
KTAR.com

Man pleads guilty to assaulting 2 Border Patrol agents in Arizona in 2022

A Mexican citizen pleaded guilty last week to the assault of two Arizona Border Patrol agents last year, authorities said.
10 hours ago
(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...
Sponsored Content by OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

Here's what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.

Sponsored Articles

(Photo by Michael Matthey/picture alliance via Getty Images)...
Cox Communications

Valley Boys & Girls Club uses esports to help kids make healthy choices

KTAR’s Community Spotlight focuses on the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley and the work to incorporate esports into children's lives.
(Pexels Photo)...

Sports gambling can be fun for adults, but it’s a dangerous game for children

While adults may find that sports gambling is a way to enhance the experience with more than just fandom on the line, it can be a dangerous proposition if children get involved in the activity.
...
Quantum Fiber

How high-speed fiber internet edges out cable for everyday use

In a world where technology drives so much of our daily lives, a lack of high-speed internet can be a major issue.
Arizona Republicans elect Jeff DeWit as new party chair