Last week, Arizona Rep. David Schweikert announced his retirement from Congress and his plans to run for governor.
His exit triggered infighting over the now open and competitive 1st District seat in Arizona.
Much of the intrigue surrounds Arizona GOP chairwoman Gina Swoboda and a reception dinner invitation that was circulating online.
Barrett Marson, the CEO of a Phoenix-based PR agency Marson Media, in a post wondered, “She’s running! But for what?”
The invitation he attached to the post notes Swoboda has lived in the 1st District for three decades.
Conservative commentator Laura Loomer, in a social media post, claimed Swoboda is considering running for Schweikert’s seat. She posted a screenshot of the reception.
Republican infighting over Arizona district
Two days ahead of the event, Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman, in a lengthy social media post, said the landing page on the RSVP form “clearly says ‘Paid for by Gina Swoboda for Congress.’”
Hoffman, who is affiliated with Turning Point USA, accused her of coaxing Schweikert to retire from Congress and pursue the office of governor for two reasons: to derail the campaign of Rep Andy Biggs and pave the way for her own ambitions.
Biggs’ gubernatorial campaign has the endorsement of President Donald Trump and the late political commentator Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
Swoboda hopes to clear the field for Karrin Taylor Robson, the Arizona GOP’s candidate of choice for governor, he said, who also has Trump’s endorsement — Trump has given a nod to both Biggs and Robson.
“Schweikert was the only Republican capable of winning CD-1 and holding the congressional majority for President Trump,” Hoffman said. “Thanks to Gina Swoboda’s scheme to get Schweikert out of the CD-1 race, the district is now largely considered to be unwinnable for any Republican other than a unicorn conservative with celebrity appeal.”
This is the latest evidence of infighting between TPUSA and the Arizona Republican Party.
Hoffman has previously called for Swoboda’s resignation over her support for proposing guardrails for the state’s school choice program, the Empowerment Scholarship Account.
The current state of affairs
Swoboda hasn’t addressed the rumors of a possible congressional run but in an appearance on KTAR News’ “The Right to Disagree,” she lightheartedly touched on the social media chatter, saying, “I just got Loomer-ed!”
She was sitting alongside former Sen. and U.S. ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
“What appears to have occurred with the brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk, God rest his soul, is that there are individuals who feel like their whole being and their whole identity can be negated by the words of another person,” Swoboda said. “If we don’t talk more and listen more, I think it’ll get worse.”
Aside from Swoboda, Kari Lake is also speculated to be considering jumping in the congressional race but it may be unlikely given her record of unsuccessful campaigns for governor and Senate during the last two election cycles.
Since Trump withdrew the name of former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich as the nominee for the ambassadorship to Serbia, he is also available to run as other candidates trickle in.