Representative Alexander Kolodin, March 16, 2025. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for the Arizona Globe)
BREAKING: Kolodin, Swoboda Clash Over AZ SOS Endorsement
It appears that opposing AZ GOP factions are once again forming
By Steve Kirwan, March 31, 2025 5:29 pm
Almost immediately after conservative Representative Alex Kolodin announced his intention to challenge Democrat Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in the 2026 election, a controversy emerged that could potentially rock the Arizona Republican Party. AZ GOP Chair Gina Swoboda, who has occasionally been at loggerheads with the Freedom Caucus and other conservative voices within the party, seemed to walk back what appeared to be an earlier full-throated endorsement of Kolodin.
On January 29, 2025, while being interviewed on Garret Lewis’s “Afternoon Addiction” radio show, Lewis asked Swoboda if she would complete her term as AZ GOP chair. She spoke about what she called “rumors” that she might run for statewide office, mentioning the SOS position, and volunteering, “I hear Alex Kolodin is gonna run for SOS (um). I think Alex is amazing and, (um), I would love to support him in this.” She then went on to say, “I don’t know what’ll happen,” seeming to leave the door open for potentially leaving her post or possibly even running herself.
You can listen to Swoboda’s own words on this video as posted on X by Merissa Hamilton:
.@realAlexKolodin running for AZSOS is significant because when @ginaswoboda was running for Chair she said on @GarretLewis show just 3 months ago that she would support Alex if he ran for the seat.
She also invoked God as the power behind her becoming @azgop Chair and said that… https://t.co/I6xW5lhz7I pic.twitter.com/oI69i6gGJr
— Merissa Hamilton 🗳 ⛽ 🗽🔥 (@merissahamilton) March 31, 2025
It’s clear that Kolodin was listening, posting on X, “When your Party Chair asks you to run. When the future of Arizona demands that you run. And when you’re the most qualified person for the job. You run. I’m Alex Kolodin and I’m running for Secretary of State to restore transparency to our elections once and for all.”
Today, shortly after Kolodin announced his intent to run, Swoboda emailed a press release refuting her endorsement.
AZ GOP CHAIR’S RESPONSE TO CLAIMS FROM STATEWIDE CANDIDATE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Today, Republican Party of Arizona Chair Gina Swoboda released the following comment in response to claims from a candidate for statewide office:
“It has been brought to my attention that Representative Alex Kolodin is claiming my endorsement for his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Secretary of State. As chairwoman of the Republican Party of Arizona, I am not, and will not be making any endorsements of any candidate running in next year’s Arizona Republican primary. If Representative Kolodin were to win the Republican primary for Secretary of State, he would have my full support in the general election as I have previously stated.”
The repercussions of these conflicting claims are just starting to reverberate through the party. It comes on the heels of another Republican vs. Republican showdown surrounding the so-called “Stolen Valor” bill, pitting supporters of Rep. Walt Blackman against those backing Sen. Swendy Rogers. You can read about the “Stolen Valor” dustup here.
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