While it is difficult to put a price on winning, it may be even more difficult to pay for losing — at least, in the experience of the Arizona Republican Party’s former chair.
Last week, about a month after losing in the Republican primary for secretary of state, former AZGOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda was sued for nonpayment of campaign signs.
Milton and Tracy Gutier, a husband and wife duo behind the Phoenix-based M & T Political Signs, filed a lawsuit against Swoboda for allegedly failing to pay for the nearly 1,500 campaign signs that they say they installed and maintained statewide for her campaign. (Case Number: CV2026-036542 in the Maricopa County Superior Court).
According to the Gutiers, Swoboda owes them approximately $41,600 plus interest for their supplies and services rendered.
The Gutiers further alleged that, throughout the month of June, Swoboda issued “constant requests” to fix damaged signs at no cost.
“In response to Defendants’ constant requests, Plaintiffs fixed numerous vandalized and knocked-down signs for free,” stated the complaint. “Under normal commercial standards, such repair work incurs additional fees for installer time, rebar, zip ties, and fuel, which Plaintiffs generously waived in good faith reliance upon Defendants’ representations that the contract balance would be paid in full.”
Once all signs were installed and subsequent repairs were made to Swoboda’s satisfaction, the Gutiers alleged that Swoboda ceased all communications with them. Swoboda allegedly cut off contact two days after Independence Day.
The Gutiers also alleged that Swoboda was responsible for the removal, defacement, destruction, or conversion of installation materials like rebar and zip ties.
Campaign finance data reflects that Swoboda has spent $222,627 of the $241,007 she raised. Her cash balance sits at $12,601 as of the last campaign finance report, filed last month.
According to the complaint and campaign finance data, Swoboda’s campaign issued just one partial payment to M & T Political Signs: $10,000 on July 1, three days before the Gutiers accused Swoboda of ceasing all communications with them.
The end to communication, if true, may have had to do with the campaign’s lack of sufficient funds to pay the alleged outstanding balance.
By the end of the 2026 Quarter 2 reporting period on July 15, Swoboda’s campaign had just $22,575 left. What Swoboda allegedly owed M & T Political Signs accounted for nearly 71% of what Swoboda raised during that reporting period.
The lawsuit against Swoboda accused her of taking on a “debtor-creditor relationship” — something for which she recently attempted to get another candidate punished.
Swoboda testified last month against Ralph Heap, a candidate who had been successful in his primary for Arizona Corporation Commission, for undertaking a credit arrangement for campaign signs.
Swoboda testified to the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission in their meeting last month that Heap should either pay fines or withdraw from the general election. Swoboda also remarked that Heap’s signs went up in tandem with signs for the opponent who bested her, Alexander Kolodin.
In that testimony, Swoboda only mentioned having approximately 1,100 campaign signs, contradicting the 1,500 approximation offered in the complaint filed against her.
Although there was no mention of Swoboda entering a credit arrangement for the signs, her alleged nonpayment appears to have cost her votes nonetheless.
On July 23, two days after the primary election and a little over two weeks after Swoboda allegedly stopped communicating with the Gutiers about payment, Milton Gutier revealed in a Facebook comment that he and his family had voted for Kolodin.
“You definitely have the Gutier family voters 19 of us,” said Gutier.
Swoboda lost to Kolodin by 113,689 votes.
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