The decision to censor the three Republicans – in addition to re-electing controversial President Kelli Ward – solidified the move to the right of the official party, while reflecting the deep fractures among Arizona Republicans over the future of the defeated Republican Party blunt polls in 2020 in this increasingly purple state.
The three Republicans are being formally censored for what the state party described at their meeting as a variety of “failures”.
McCain, widow of the late Senator John McCain, who supported Biden during the election, was censored for supporting “left-wing causes” and for not supporting Trump.
Flake, a CNN contributor, was also convicted of supporting Biden in the election.
“Nonsense. It’s nonsense,” says Glenn Hamer, a former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party. “Parties that want to succeed bring people together and increase the number of people who are attracted to the party. What is happening with the leadership at AZ GOP is just the opposite. It is self-destructive.”
Kirk Adams, a former state deputy and adviser to Ducey, called the actions “entering the rabbit hole of loyalty”.
“What we are getting is a test of purity, and this test of purity is simple: are you loyal to Donald Trump, no matter what? If not, we will censor you.”
Ward seemed publicly unconcerned by any warning from moderates, while speaking to Arizona Republicans gathered at Dream City Church in Phoenix. The site was closed to almost all reporters, except for a few hand-picked vehicles.
Ward ended his speech before the members’ vote for party president with: “Make America Great Again!” She then presented a recorded audio message from Trump, where the former president said to members, “I give her my total and total endorsement.”
Ward defeated his opponent by 3 points in two rounds of voting.
Ducey’s political director, Sara Mueller, disregarded the power of the state party’s actions, notably over the incumbent governor’s censorship. “These resolutions have no consequence, and the people behind them have lost any small moral authority they may have had,” said Mueller.
Flake tweeted a photo of himself with McCain and Ducey in Biden’s possession, with the words “Good company”.
McCain was not found for immediate comment, but tweeted: “It is a great honor to be included in a group of Arizonans who have served our state and our nation so well … and who, like my late husband John, have been censored by AZGOP. I will use this as an emblem of honor. “
The late senator was censored in 2014 by the state Republican Party for what he then described as a liberal background.
Immediate actions appear to have little impact on the three Republicans. And there are signs that some Republican Party voters in Arizona may be unhappy after the US Capitol uprising. Figures compiled by the Arizona Secretary of State’s office show that from January 6 to 20, more than 8,000 Republicans requested to change their party registration from Republican to Independent, Democratic or Libertarian. The Office of the Secretary of State does not explicitly track party changes for reporting purposes, so it is not clear whether these trends are unique to this post-election cycle.
But Adams sees these registration numbers as a shrill siren that Trumpism has wreaked havoc in the future of this increasingly competitive state for the Republican brand.
“Many Republicans within the official AZ GOP apparatus have left their conservative principles behind. They are now loyal to a single man or personality against a platform of ideas,” said Adams. “Perhaps this fever will cease. But if not, it means bad news for Republicans seeking positions in this state.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story distorted Kirk Adams’ surname.