Latest news with #Branscomb
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona Democratic Party ousts chairperson after short but tumultuous tenure
The Brief Arizona Democrats have removed state party chair Robert Branscomb from the post. The removal took place on July 16. A leadership election will reportedly take place in September. PHOENIX - Members of the Arizona Democratic Party have ousted their chairperson, just six months after he started in the position. What we know Per reports from the Associated Press, Robert Branscomb was removed from his now-former post as party chair on July 16, and the removal was supported by two-thirds of the Democratic Party activists who make up the state committee. The backstory Per a statement issued by the Arizona Democrats on January 21, Branscomb was elected on Jan. 18 as the 2025-2026 party chair. At the time, party officials said Branscomb, who served as a vice chair for the party during the 2023-2024 cycle and was a state party delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, "brings over three decades of experience in corporate management, small business ownership, and public service." Party officials also said at the time that Branscomb was the first African American to hold the post of state party chair in Arizona. Per AP's story on Branscomb's removal, Branscomb's election as party chair was considered an upset, and following his election, most of the senior staff was fired by Branscomb. The AP also reported that in April, Branscomb sent a letter to members of the state committee that criticized Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego. The letter, according to Utah-based news outlet Deseret News, alleged that the two senators "interfered with and intimidated the chairman over staffing decisions." Per the AP, both Kelly and Gallego, along with Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and Attorney General Kris Mayes, responded with a letter that states they have lost trust in Branscomb. The other side Branscomb has reportedly suggested that racism played a role in his removal. What's next Per the AP, Kim Khoury will take over as party leader until a new chair is elected. In a post made to social media about Khoury's selection as interim leader, Maricopa County Democratic Party officials state that the leadership election will take place in September.
6 days ago
- Politics
Arizona Democrats oust embattled chair amid party turmoil
PHOENIX -- Arizona Democrats ousted their embattled chairman six months into a tumultuous tenure that prompted top elected officials and national fundraising committees to sideline the state party ahead of the midterms. Robert Branscomb's removal late Wednesday was supported by two-thirds of the Democratic activists who make up the state committee. Party disarray threatens to complicate Democrats' efforts to hold on to a decade of successes in a state long dominated by Republicans. Arizona has no Senate contest next year but will have at least two battleground U.S. House races, and the campaigns for governor, other top state offices and legislature could dictate how Arizona handles the 2028 presidential election. Branscomb took over the party in an upset election in January, when Democrats declined to re-elect former Chair Yolanda Bejarano following party's disastrous performance in the 2024 election. Branscomb promptly fired most of the senior staff. Behind-the-scenes tension exploded into public view in April. Branscromb sent a letter to members of the state Democratic committee blasting Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, a highly unusual move against the state's top Democrats. Kelly and Gallego — along with the governor, secretary of state and attorney general — responded with their own letter saying they'd lost trust in Branscomb. Last month, the party's treasurer warned that Branscomb was spending more money than he was raising and the party was on track to go broke by the end of the year. Branscomb was Arizona's first Black Democratic Party chair, and he has blamed to push against him in part on racial animus. He said Thursday that he was held to a higher standard than his predecessors and was pushed out in a 'coup' before he had time to implement changes or explain his side of the story. 'I was trying to make my way there, but I guess change is hard for some people,' Branscomb said. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes — Democrats who all are seeking second terms next year — announced this month that they will outsource grassroots organizing to a small county organization rather than the Arizona Democratic Party.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Arizona Democrats oust embattled chair amid party turmoil
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Democrats ousted their embattled chairman six months into a tumultuous tenure that prompted top elected officials and national fundraising committees to sideline the state party ahead of the midterms. Robert Branscomb's removal late Wednesday was supported by two-thirds of the Democratic activists who make up the state committee. Party disarray threatens to complicate Democrats' efforts to hold on to a decade of successes in a state long dominated by Republicans. Arizona has no Senate contest next year but will have at least two battleground U.S. House races, and the campaigns for governor, other top state offices and legislature could dictate how Arizona handles the 2028 presidential election. Branscomb took over the party in an upset election in January, when Democrats declined to re-elect former Chair Yolanda Bejarano following party's disastrous performance in the 2024 election. Branscomb promptly fired most of the senior staff. Behind-the-scenes tension exploded into public view in April. Branscromb sent a letter to members of the state Democratic committee blasting Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, a highly unusual move against the state's top Democrats. Kelly and Gallego — along with the governor, secretary of state and attorney general — responded with their own letter saying they'd lost trust in Branscomb. Last month, the party's treasurer warned that Branscomb was spending more money than he was raising and the party was on track to go broke by the end of the year. Branscomb was Arizona's first Black Democratic Party chair, and he has blamed to push against him in part on racial animus. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday's vote. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes — Democrats who all are seeking second terms next year — announced this month that they will outsource grassroots organizing to a small county organization rather than the Arizona Democratic Party. First Vice Chair Kim Khoury will lead the party until a new chair is elected.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Arizona Democrats vote to oust state party chair amid infighting
Arizona Democrats voted to oust their state party chair, Robert Branscomb II, during a special meeting on Wednesday, a major rebuke that comes as the party has been embroiled in infighting. Arizona Democratic state committee members notched the two-thirds majority threshold needed in order to formally remove Branscomb during a tense meeting plagued by technical difficulties, according to local media reports. Dissent over Branscomb and his leadership of the party had been bubbling up in the months leading up to the Wednesday meeting. Branscomb upset his party when he sent a note to state committee members in April, alleging that Arizona's Democratic senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, were intimidating him over his pick for executive director. The note prompted both senators along with Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) to declare that Branscomb had 'lost our trust.' Between the resignation of the party's former secretary, the suspension of a high-ranking state party official and a damning news from its treasurer that projected — at the current rate — the party would likely run out of money by the end of the year, the tensions only bubbled over. The issues coupled together prompted Democrats to launch their coordinate campaign efforts to help reelection Hobbs, Mayes and Fontes through the Navajo County Democratic Committee, working around the state party as an indication that the party had no confidence in the state apparatus. Branscomb, in an interview with The Arizona Republic in mid-May, acknowledged he could have some things differently, but he's also pressed for Democrats to 'allow me to get my footing.' He said he believes chairs before him weren't facing the same hurdles he's been contending with and argued that he wasn't left in a strong position to take over as the state party leader. The state party chair has continued to push back, telling the Republic in an interview this week 'They're weaponizing identity politics in this. From the beginning, what have I done wrong?' A group of Black leaders had thrown their weight behind him in amid the turmoil, expressing their confidence in Branscomb. Yet it's done little to quell frustrations within the party. The stakes of party revolt are high: Democrats are defending three key statewide office positions between Hobbs, Mayes and Fontes — and in a perennial battleground state, no less. One question lingering over the state party is how much of a role it will play in the 2026 midterms given Democrats have already moved their coordinate campaign to a county party.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona Democrats will bypass struggling state party in midterms, with key races on ballot
PHOENIX (AP) — Top Arizona Democrats said Tuesday they will bypass the financially strained state party and its embattled new chairman in next year's midterms, as they looked to assure donors and activists that party dysfunction won't hamper their efforts to win in the battleground state. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes — who all are seeking second terms next year — said grassroots organizing will be outsourced to a small county organization rather than the Arizona Democratic Party. The workaround comes as party disarray threatens to complicate Democrats' efforts to hold on to a decade of successes in a state long dominated by Republicans. Arizona has no Senate contest next year but will have at least two battleground U.S. House races, and the campaigns for governor, other top state offices and legislature could dictate how Arizona handles the 2028 presidential election. National Democratic committees, including the Democratic Governors Association, signed on to the move. Conflict with Arizona Democratic state party Arizona Democrats unexpectedly ousted former Chair Yolanda Bejarano after the party's disastrous showing in the 2024 election, when Donald Trump won the state after losing it to Joe Biden in 2020. New Chairman Robert Branscomb promptly fired most of the senior staff. Behind-the-scenes tension exploded into public view in April. Branscromb sent a letter to members of the state Democratic committee blasting Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, a highly unusual move against the state's top Democrats. Kelly, Gallego, Hobbs, Fontes and Mayes responded with their own letter saying they'd lost trust in Branscomb. Last month, the party's treasurer warned that Branscomb was spending more money than he was raising and the party was on track to run out of money by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the party is operating without a budget approved by the executive committee. Allies of Branscomb, the party's first Black chair, have said the pressure on him is racially motivated. He faces a potential ouster later this month but has refused to step aside. After Tuesday's announcement, Branscomb projected a united front with the officials who spurned him, predicting the split would not hold back Democrats. 'I think the people are ready to solidify our democracy, and democrats are in a position to win up and down the ticket,' he said. 'Because we're focused on different areas doesn't mean we're not together.' Navajo County Democrats to run get-out-the-vote The Arizona Democratic Party has traditionally housed the coordinated get-out-the-vote campaign designed to turn out voters for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. Hobbs, Fontes and Mayes said Tuesday they'll run it instead through the Navajo County Democratic Party for 2026. Democrats are well-organized in Navajo County, which is small by population but large geographically in rural northeastern Arizona. The party has long invested in organizing there among Native American voters. The county party can do most everything the state party can do, with one major exception—only the state party can send mail at a discounted postal rate. Branscomb said that won't be an issue. 'We'll still cooperate and work together on this,' he said. 'We all have the same vision, we all have the same goal to get them all re-elected.' Running a statewide campaign through a county party is not without precedent. Former Sen. John McCain leaned on the Yuma County GOP in his 2010 re-election campaign after a faction hostile to him took control of the Arizona Republican Party. In Nevada, Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto ran her 2022 coordinated campaign through the Washoe County Democratic Party after progressives took control of the state party. In this case, the rupture between the officials and the party is not driven by ideology but by concerns of mismanagement and financial constraints. ___
