Top Arizona Republicans Demand GOP Allies Cease Election Conspiracy Rhetoric

Prominent Arizona Republicans are gearing up for a challenging mission to restore voter confidence in the state’s elections.

“It’s going to be tough,” former Governor Jan Brewer stated in an interview with the Arizona Mirror. Brewer is a board member of the Democracy Defense Project, a newly formed bipartisan group aiming to reinforce faith in the election system.

The Democracy Defense Project was established to counter attempts to undermine election integrity. Board members intend to publicly defend election officials and the rule of law, according to a news release.

This initiative comes as Arizona’s election system, particularly in Maricopa County, faces intense scrutiny. Earlier this month, a temporary election worker allegedly stole a ballot tabulator key, adding fuel to existing conspiracy theories.

The key was quickly recovered, and the suspect was arrested. However, this didn’t halt the spread of baseless speculations about election integrity. Former U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon, another board member, emphasized that these conspiracies are damaging to the Republican Party.

Salmon, who has extensive experience in the political arena, including 10 years as a congressman, expressed his reluctance to run for office again due to the party’s current trajectory.

“It’s really a waste of time and money,” Salmon said, criticizing the ongoing lawsuits challenging election results. He believes these efforts are more about maintaining public visibility than addressing legitimate concerns.

Many Arizona Republicans claim the 2020 and 2022 elections were stolen, an assertion continually contested by candidates like Kari Lake, who lost the 2022 governor’s race to Democrat Katie Hobbs. Salmon dismisses these lawsuits as insubstantial.

Both Salmon and Brewer agree that restoring election confidence is crucial but differ on why many Republicans believe the system is rigged. Brewer contends that misinformation is the root cause and stresses the importance of educating the public about election safeguards.

Salmon, however, believes some officials perpetuate fraud claims for political gain, even if they privately acknowledge their doubts. He pointed to internal communications showing some election deniers casting their own claims in a negative light.

Fraud and illegal voting, while present, are minuscule and do not affect election outcomes, according to Salmon. He and Brewer hope their efforts will ensure peaceful transitions of power, regardless of election results.

“We don’t want another Jan. 6,” Brewer said, reflecting on the Capitol riot. She recounted her own narrow gubernatorial loss in 2002, underscoring the need to accept election results to move forward.

“Convincing people to return to reality and listen to facts is challenging,” Brewer admitted, but emphasized the necessity of having trusted voices advocate for the truth.

The swift arrest of the key thief in Maricopa County was cited by both Salmon and Brewer as evidence of the state’s robust election security measures. Salmon criticized “ultra MAGA” politicians for fueling election doubts that harm the Republican Party’s unity and electoral success.

While Salmon refrained from disclosing his vote for Trump, Brewer confirmed her support for the Republican nominee. A recent controversial remark by Shelby Busch, a Maricopa County Republican Committee Vice Chair, also drew Brewer’s ire, who called for an apology and careful consideration of Busch’s position.

The Democracy Defense Project is also active in Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Other Arizona board members include Republican Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines and former Democratic state Rep. Daniel Hernandez.