On January 25, 2025, the Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP) will elect its chairperson. Typically, the party elects its chair during biennial statutory meetings held in January of odd-numbered years. Jeff DeWit was elected as chair in January 2023 for a two-year term. However, DeWit resigned midway through his term, prompting the AZGOP to hold a special election during their mandatory meeting on January 27, 2024. They elected Gina Swoboda as the new chairwoman with over 66% of the vote.

The next scheduled election for the AZGOP chair will occur this January. In a surprising turn, Swoboda will face a stiff competitor, State Representative Cory McGarr, who announced his intention to run on X.

McGarr, a Republican representing Legislative District 17, is a member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, which advocates limited government and individual liberties. In the November 5 election, McGarr was unsuccessful in his re-election bid, with Democrat Kevin Volk and Republican incumbent Rachel Jones securing the two available seats.

During his tenure, McGarr held strong conservative positions, including efforts to secure Arizona’s border, combat inflation by proposing tax eliminations, and protect parental rights. McGarr announced his candidacy on X but stopped short of saying why he was challenging Swoboda and what makes him a better leader for the AZGOP. The Globe reached out to McGarr but did not receive a response.

Shortly after his announcement, Kari Lake responded on X with a note of congratulations and what seemed to be a nod of support. “Cory is a grassroots legend and he will work tirelessly to achieve true Election Integrity in Arizona. Thanks for getting in this race, @CoryMcGarr.”

Arizona State Committeewoman Liz Harris told the Globe, “I met Cory McGarr in the summer of 2022 when we were both running for the State House. I was impressed when his reasons for running for office were completely aligned with mine. It is always about doing the right thing for the people.”

Harris emphasized their mutual dedication to election integrity, noting, “Our 2020 election had mass anomalies, and correcting our election system was near and dear to both of us.”

She praised McGarr’s legislative acumen: “He is exceptionally bright and sometimes caught things in the bills I had missed. I cherished the moments he was able to make me a better legislator as we learned together as freshmen.”

Highlighting his steadfast support, Harris remarked, “Cory was in full support of every single one of my election integrity bills which would have completely corrected our election difficulties in the great state of Arizona. Cory continued to support those bills after I was expelled and even reran one in the next session.”

Expressing her desire for continued collaboration, Harris said, “Since the system didn’t allow Cory to win the LD17 race, after some deep thought it came to mind that it would be amazing if he could continue to serve alongside me following the mantra of always doing the right thing for the people.”

She concluded with optimism for the future: “I am so proud to have been the first person to ask Cory McGarr to serve with me as one of the RNC 168 as AZGOP Chair. He is a breath of fresh honest air and together we will refresh the Republican Party for the amazing state of Arizona by always doing right for the people.”

Harris, a Republican, briefly served in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2023 before expulsion. She was elected last year to represent Arizona as the RNC Chairwoman. State Senator Jake Hoffman is the RNC Chairman for Arizona and supports McGarr, as noted in a post on X. However, the state senator did not respond to our request for a statement to confirm his support.

Swoboda filed to run for re-election as AZGOP chair on December 18. She told the Globe, “I love this state 💗☀️🌵 I am looking forward to building on our incredible success in this election and continuing to work with our partners in the counties, LDs, advocacy groups, and officeholders, helping to elect Republicans up and down the ticket to advance the interests of the people of Arizona. Let’s goooooo🔥🔥🔥”

Senator Wendy Rogers showed her support for Swoboda with a post on X:

Shelby Busch supports Swoboda’s re-election. She is the First Vice Chair of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, Chair of Arizona’s delegation to the Republican National Convention, and Co-Founder of We the People AZ Alliance. Busch told the Globe it has been an honor to work alongside the AZGOP under Gina’s leadership. “She has been a true advocate for grassroots Precinct Committeemen and has built strong partnerships with Maricopa County Republican leadership,” Busch stated.

Reflecting on Gina’s selection by President Trump in 2023, Busch emphasized the impact of her leadership: “President Trump chose Gina in 2023, and under her guidance, Arizona delivered the largest voter shift among all swing states for Trump. Starting over now would be a mistake.”

Busch underscored the importance of maintaining momentum as Republicans look to reclaim key statewide offices: “We must build on this momentum to reclaim Arizona’s critical three: Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. The 2026 election is vital, and Gina provides the proven leadership Arizona can trust.”

Inga Chouinard, a rural Payson precinct committeeman, weighed in regarding the need to keep Swoboda. She told the Globe, “I totally support Gina Swaboda 100%. She’s bright, knowledgeable, articulate, a hard worker, and has the facts. She has done a remarkable job in a short time. President Trump is a genius endorsing Gina. I’m convinced that Gina played a large part in the win President Trump had in Arizona.”

Legislators began to weigh in on the race between Swoboda and McGarr on X. Senator T.J. Shope was sure that Swoboda would have President-elect Trump’s support because she had it last year when she defeated popular Arizona Corporation Commissioner Jim O’Conner. Shope posted on X, “she has my support. Let’s all rally behind Gina Swoboda for AZGOP chair.”

Representative Teresa Martinez posted that Swoboda “has done an amazing job and I absolutely back her for Chairwoman of the AZGOP!”

In a condensed timeframe (third quarter of 2024), Swoboda amassed $9 million, reflecting robust support from Arizonans dissatisfied with current policies.

Sen. Janae Shamp added, “The Boss knows she is the best woman for the job! And so does Arizona! Looking forward to winning 2026 with @GinaSwoboda as the State Party Chair!”

Swoboda’s tenure has been marked by a steadfast commitment to election integrity and grassroots engagement. Her strategic initiatives were instrumental in securing Arizona’s 11 electoral votes for President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 election, in a margin that surpassed 2016.

Additionally, the party maintained control over both chambers of the Arizona Legislature and achieved significant victories in Maricopa County offices, including County Attorney, Sheriff, and School Superintendent positions.

Some political insiders grumble that election security should be more critical. After McGarr’s defeat, he expressed discontent with Garrett Lewis about the Afternoon addiction and the issues in Pima County. That episode is available here. In another post, Lewis said, “Corey McGarr needs to be the next Chairman of the AZGOP.”

Previously, Lewis had high praise for Swoboda throughout the year. He called her “a boss,” and she appeared occasionally on his radio show.

As the January 25, 2025, election approaches, AZGOP members face a critical decision that will shape the party’s direction and strategy in the lead-up to the 2026 elections, where key statewide offices, including the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, will be contested. The big question is whether President-elect Trump will stick with Swoboda or endorse McGarr.

The Globe will be following this story closely.