Merissa Hamilton Archives

BREAKING: Kolodin, Swoboda Clash Over AZ SOS Endorsement

March 31, 2025 5:29 pmApril 9, 2025 5:10 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...

Heap, Board of Sups Spar Over Maricopa Election Rules

February 27, 2025 10:18 amMarch 6, 2025 7:40 am

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and the county’s Board of Supervisors are locked in a dispute over control of key election responsibilities. The conflict erupted after outgoing Recorder Stephen Richer and the previous Board approved a late-2024 agreement shifting several...

Freedom Caucus Members Chaplik, Kolodin Snubbed for Leadership

November 20, 2024 6:00 amNovember 28, 2024 8:36 am

The election of Representative Steve Montenegro (R-29) as Speaker of the Arizona House continues to spark internal debates within the Arizona Republican Party. The release of the new Speaker’s Committee assignments has amplified the discord. Most notably, the selections exclude Montenegro’s...

State Representative Steve Montenegro speaking with the media at a press conference hosted by Border 911 at the Arizona State Capitol building in Phoenix, Arizona.

Montenegro’s AZ House Speaker Win Sparks GOP Infighting

November 16, 2024 9:29 amNovember 21, 2024 7:45 am

Arizona’s Republican Party is at a crossroads, with recent leadership elections exposing deep divisions between grassroots activists and the party’s establishment. The election of Steve Montenegro as House Speaker over grassroots favorite Joseph Chaplik sparked intense debate about the GOP’s...