Arizona’s top two political parties elected their new chairs on Saturday at their annual statutory meetings. Members of the Democratic Party elected Yolanda Bejarano by a wide margin. former State Treasurer Jeff DeWit won the Republican Party race for chair by a landslide.
The Democrats rejected Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo, Governor Katie Hobbs’ pick, in a vote of 440 to 186.
Democrat @KatieHobbs was dealt another blow Saturday after her hand-picked candidate lost the race to become @AZDemParty's next chair — and it wasn't even close.
MORE ➡️ https://t.co/ln4BtYaRvh #AZGov #AZLeghttps://t.co/vpi1DPpvyr pic.twitter.com/LAJMTpyRTi
— Brian Anderson (@AZBrianAnderson) January 29, 2023
Bejarano, former field director for Communications Workers of America and vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, succeeds Arizona State Sen. Raquel Teran, who was elected as party chair in 2021.
DeWit, who was elected in the first round of voting with 71 percent of the vote, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. DeWit replaces Dr. Kelli Ward, who just lost her race for RNC Secretary in a vote of 118 – 36.