Arizona

Trump endorses ally for AZ Republican Party chair after Jeff DeWit resigns over Kari Lake tape

Published

2 years ago

January 27, 2024

Trump endorses ally for AZ Republican Party chair after Jeff DeWit resigns over Kari Lake tape

On a day when Donald Trump was told he had to pay $83.3 million to a woman for defaming her, the former president took time to endorse one of his former campaign officials for chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

He picked Gina Swoboda, a conservative election activist and former Trump campaign official who is a current officer in the state GOP.

The nod to Arizona politics as the federal jury award came down in New York shows both how important the state is to Trump’s 2024 presidential hopes and how Trump felt he needed to quickly straighten out the mess caused by the Kari Lake-caused resignation of the former chair, Jeff DeWit.

DeWit resigned Wednesday after Lake, the Trump-endorsed candidate running for U.S. Senate in Arizona, released an audio recording she had made of DeWit telling her that “powerful people” wanted to give her a lucrative job in exchange for halting her Senate campaign. Though Lake secretly recorded the conversation in March, she released the recording days before the annual state Republican Party meeting on Saturday, creating a rush of candidates for the chair job.

Trump canceled his attendance at the state GOP’s planned FreedomFest rally after DeWit’s resignation, which led the party to cancel the rally. State party officials, including DeWit, had counted on the rally to help raise money.

Trump’s spokespeople said he had a court hearing on Friday and couldn’t make the event. Trump attended closing arguments on Friday, though he walked out briefly as plaintiff E. Jean Carroll’s lawyer was speaking. A jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defaming her in 2019 after she accused him of rape.

Former president loses lawsuit: Trump hit with $83.3 million in damages for defaming E. Jean Carroll

Trump’s campaign team said in a statement he spoke with Swoboda on Friday.

“Gina is a strong fighter for election integrity and will be relentless in her work to deliver Arizona for President Trump and Kari Lake in 2024,” the statement said.

Lake soon followed by also endorsing Swoboda.

Not filling the position immediately would mean a 45-day delay, because the party’s bylaws require that amount of time to arrange a special election meeting. That’s a long time in an election year when every month counts. Putting a poor fundraiser in the job could be an even worse move for the party.

‘Betrayal’: Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigns after recording of ‘offer’ to Kari Lake

DeWit was elected last year as the state GOP faced a financial disaster some blamed on former party Chair Kelli Ward.

The unpaid job is primarily about raising as much money as possible for elections up and down the ballot, said Barrett Marson, a Republican political consultant.

“A problem with taking out Jeff DeWit is, who do you replace him with that can raise money and lead the party in an election year?” Marson said. “A Trump-endorsed chair could be good for fundraising. The Republican National Committee will likely funnel a lot of money to the Arizona GOP.”

But Marson said he’s not familiar with Swoboda’s fundraising ability.

Swoboda does have experience in helping Trump find suspected election fraud. As executive director of the Voter Reference Foundation, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Restoration Action Inc., she pushes the idea that elections aren’t secure and mailed ballots aren’t to be trusted.

The company has been accused in articles by OpenSecret.org of disseminating false claims about voting discrepancies, but the company says on its website its goals are to increase voter participation and ensure elections are “transparent, accurate and fair.”

Swoboda worked last year as the state Senate’s adviser on election matters and also worked as “election integrity director” for Lake’s failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

‘Disgusting’: Kari Lake assails former AZ GOP boss Jeff DeWit, doesn’t say why she released ‘bribe’ recording

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

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Arizona

Arizona will regulate groundwater where Saudi company grows alfalfa

Published

11 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Arizona will regulate groundwater where Saudi company grows alfalfa

Arizona is creating a new active management area in the Ranegras groundwater basin to more tightly monitor water use.
The new rules require annual water use reports and conservation goals for high-capacity wells.
Saudi-owned Fondomonte and other large farms will face new reporting requirements and conservation goals.

Farmers, municipalities and industry in southeastern La Paz County, where Saudi-owned Fondomonte grows alfalfa for export, will face new requirements on groundwater use and reporting.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources designated an active management area in the Ranegras groundwater basin on Jan. 9, the agency said. With it, the area will become the eighth AMA in the state and the second one initiated by state mandate during Gov. Katie Hobbs’ administration. Hobbs also announced the designation in her Jan. 12 State of the State address.

The agency held an informational public meeting in Salome in October, and a formal hearing in December, ahead of its final decision. From the 400 oral and written comments it received from the public, the “vast majority” supported the AMA, the agency wrote in a press release.

“The future of residents and businesses depends upon protecting the finite groundwater resources,” Director Tom Buschatzke said in a statement.

According to the agency, agricultural water use in Ranegras is estimated at nearly 40,000 acre-feet a year; recharge, or what is returned to the aquifer, is an estimated 2,000 acre-feet per year. There are no exact numbers because, until now, individuals could pump unlimited amounts of groundwater without reporting how much they were using. That’s still the case in most of rural Arizona, where there are no groundwater regulations in place.

La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin celebrated the announcement.

“We asked for a rural management tool that would fit our unique needs. Year after year, those pleas fell on deaf ears. Today, we’ve finally been heard,” she said in a statement. The AMA, she added, “is the decisive action we need to stop the bleeding that threatens the vitality of our community.”

County Supervisor Ducey Minor opposed the creation of an AMA at the formal hearing, saying that there is a water problem to address but the imposed regulations would stunt growth.

The AMA blocks agricultural expansion, and mandates annual water use reports and water conservation goals. Land that had not been irrigated for crop production sometime in the last five years cannot be farmed again unless owners show they’ve made a “substantial capital investment” on it.

Fondomonte, a subsidiary of Saudi-owned dairy Almarai, owns 22,873 acres of land in La Paz County, according to the assessor’s office, and will be granted “irrigation grandfathered rights” for land the company has farmed in the area in the past five years. The company hasn’t responded to numerous requests from The Republic to disclose how many acres it is actively farming in the Ranegras basin.

Like all other water users irrigating more than two acres or using pumps with a capacity of more than 35 gallons per minute, Fondomonte will face conservation goals and report annual water use, which is not public today.

Egg producers, pistachio orchards, dairies, feedlots and other farms in Ranegras would face similar requirements. There are nearly 8,000 acres of irrigated farmland in the basin, according to state estimates.

Wells that pump 35 gallons per minute or less, like those used for home needs, are not subject to regulation under the AMA.

Arizona’s water authority said the mandatory measuring and reporting will provide “reliable water use data,” benefit all users, and improve decision-making and transparency.

What will change?

The AMA will place restrictions on new high-capacity wells, like those used for crop irrigation, and demand annual water use reports or estimates. Anyone who wants to drill or deepen a well that pumps more than 35 gallons per minute, known as a “non-exempt well,” will have to perform a well-impact analysis, which will be subject to approval.

The AMA places no restrictions on wells pumping less than 35 gallons per minute, also called “exempt” wells.

Farmers using wells that irrigate more than two acres of land or pump more than 35 gallons per minute will have to measure how much water they are extracting. The conservation goals and management plan for the area, to be determined, would be designed to mitigate or slow down groundwater depletion. There would be a different conservation plan for agriculture, municipalities and industry.

A groundwater users advisory council, or GUAC, made up of five volunteer members who represent water users in the basin, will provide input to the state agency prior to adoption of the management plans. Those members are appointed by the governor. Anyone can submit their candidacy.

The Department said in the announcement it will send additional information to stakeholders and residents of the basin over the coming weeks.

Fondomonte is in an ongoing lawsuit with the Arizona Attorney General’s office.

“Regardless of whether an AMA is imposed in the Ranegras Plain, which I support, my office is moving forward with our public nuisance lawsuit against Fondomonte,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said at a meeting in Cochise County on Jan. 8, where she announced a settlement with Riverview LLP, a Minnesota-owned dairy that owns 58,562 acres in the Douglas and Willcox AMAs.

Managing groundwater depletion and protecting rural water users takes a mix of tools, she added.

“(An AMA) does not address the damage already done.”

Clara Migoya covers agriculture and water issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com.

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Arizona

Gov. Katie Hobbs wants to make Arizona more affordable. Can she do it?

Published

23 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Gov. Katie Hobbs wants to make Arizona more affordable. Can she do it?

Gov. Katie Hobbs put her focus squarely on making life more affordable for Arizonans feeling the pinch of higher costs in the final State of the State speech of her first term as governor.

Hobbs’ 45-minute speech was given to Arizona lawmakers and their guests at the state House of Representatives, but its message appeared targeted to Arizona voters stressed by risings costs. Hobbs, a Democrat seeking reelection this November, repeatedly turned back to efforts to make life more affordable, and the governor portrayed that as one area to find common ground with the Republican majority at the Capitol.

Hobbs spoke about the issue in personal terms, noting that she worked at Pizza Hut to put herself through college and took extra jobs to support her family when she was a lawmaker.

“Affordability isn’t a joke or some hoax,” Hobbs said. “It’s a real and consequential challenge that families across Arizona must grapple with every day. Pocketbooks are strained, and Arizonans need their elected officials to take action.”

Hobbs called on lawmakers to “immediately” pass her version of a plan to replicate part of President Donald Trump’s massive tax package, signed into law in July.

The speech was light on new policy announcements, but Hobbs did reiterate her goals to create new fees on short-term rentals and data centers in order to fund aid for families to pay their utility bills and water conservation, respectively.

Hobbs did announce that the Arizona Department of Water Resources had created a groundwater management area in La Paz County, a process that had been underway and is the second administratively created regulation area in the state.

Hobbs talked vaguely about plans to reduce the state’s expenditures by $100 million over the next three years, which she dubbed the Arizona Capacity and Efficiency Initiative. She also spoke in support of funding K-12 public education, and foreshadowed changes she will propose to the state’s private school voucher program called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. More details of both proposals are expected to be released on Jan. 16, when Hobbs debuts her budget plan.

“In my plan, the original mission of the ESA program — to help kids with disabilities and in military families — remains untouched,” Hobbs said. “But even the program’s most ardent supporters must agree: it’s time we tackle the waste, fraud, and abuse to ensure taxpayer dollars are going towards true educational purposes.”

In targeting waste, fraud and abuse, Hobbs borrowed a piece of political rhetoric often used by the Trump administration. She repeatedly portrayed Arizona’s government as efficient and effective when compared to the leadership in Washington, D.C.

“We delivered 10 million school meals to children who needed them while Washington cut food assistance and then held it hostage during the federal government shutdown,” Hobbs said of her work in 2025. “And the budget we passed was bipartisan and balanced, while the Washington budget was partisan and skyrocketed the national debt by trillions of dollars — leaving our children and grandchildren to pick up the tab for our federal government’s reckless and irresponsible spending.”

She also blasted the federal government for rejecting an emergency declaration after flooding swept through Globe and parts of Gila County last year. Hobbs used the issue as one of several throughout her speech to call for bipartisanship.

“I hope elected officials on both sides of this chamber, and in Congress, join me in calling on (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) to right this wrong and reverse their callous decision to deny our communities emergency assistance,” Hobbs said. “To the people of Globe and Miami — you deserve better than this. We will continue to fight for you and all Arizonans — especially when Washington, D.C. won’t.”

While many of Hobbs’ goals prompted standing ovations from Democratic lawmakers in the chamber, the speech was received coolly by Republicans. Still, it was also notable that the lengthy address did not prompt antics as in prior years, when GOP lawmakers turned their backs on the governor or left the chamber entirely.

Hobbs did not discuss issues that have animated Democrats in past elections, such as LGBTQ rights or abortion access, save for passing references to allowing Arizonans the freedom “to decide who to love” and “to make your own medical decisions, including how and when to grow your family.”

“She sounded more like a Republican,” said Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix and a former staffer for GOP Gov. Doug Ducey.

Gress pointed to Hobbs’ calls for $100 million in spending reductions, and her nod to her request the Trump administration pay Arizona over $760 million for border costs. Hobbs also mentioned her past deployment of the Arizona National Guard to the border, and her task forces that she said have helped seize more than 16,000 pounds of fentanyl, 1,200 firearms and made over 1,400 arrests.

“While the federal government uses law enforcement resources to score political points in cities thousands of miles from the southern border, Arizona is laser-focused on securing the border, getting drugs off the streets, and cracking down on criminals poisoning our neighborhoods and our children,” she said.

This is a developing story. Return to azcentral.com for updates.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

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Arizona

Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from Jan. 9-11

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from Jan. 9-11

PHOENIX — From Phoenix stores being required to comply with a new shopping cart ordinance to a driver who fled police in a Mesa chase and more, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from Jan. 9-11.

Phoenix stores required to comply with new shopping cart ordinance

Phoenix stores that provide shopping carts to their customers must complete an annual certification to comply with the city’s new shopping cart ordinance.

The new ordinance, which will go into effect on Thursday, is being implemented to reduce the number of abandoned shopping carts in neighborhoods, sidewalks and other public spaces, according to a news release.

If any store fails to comply by the Thursday deadline, those with a retrieval contract will be subject to a $25 fee for every cart returned by the city. A $50 fee will be charged to stores that don’t have a contract

Driver who fled police in Mesa chase hospitalized after crash

A driver who fled Mesa police and crashed early Saturday morning was hospitalized, and he faces arrest once released, authorities said.

Police attempted to stop the man shortly after 2 a.m. near Stewart Road and Southern Avenue. Instead of yielding to police lights and sirens, he fled at high speeds, according to Mesa Police Department spokesperson Jesse Macias.

Police spotted the driver traveling north on the Loop 101 and then east on Loop 202 before exiting onto University Drive.

He continued west on University Drive until he collided with a pole near 64th Street. Officers then took him into custody.

Construction to start on 2nd segment of I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project

The second part of construction for the Interstate 10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project is set to begin, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

This will be the second out of four segments of the project. The full I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Project spans 26 miles of I-10 from the Loop 202 to north of Casa Grande. It is expected to be completed in 2029, according to the project’s general construction duration timeline.

Construction crews will work on the 10-mile stretch of I-10 in both directions from Gas Line Road to south of State Route 387, north of Casa Grande.

2026 Arizona Bike Week motorcycle rally and concert series returns

Arizona Bike Week is returning to WestWorld of Scottsdale for its 29th annual edition this spring.

Arizona Bike Week is set for April 8-12 (Wednesday-Sunday), with concerts each of the first four nights. Admission is free on Sunday.

General admission rally passes, which include access to all four concerts, are on sale now for $192.60, which includes taxes and fees. Upgraded front row experience passes are $390.86, while the top tier option with front stage and elevated deck viewing access is priced at $532.63.

Project to improve SR 347 south of Valley takes step forward with contractor

A project to improve State Route 347 south of the Valley took a step forward this week by selecting a contractor, the Arizona Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

Following an extensive review process, Sundt Construction was selected as the contractor for the SR 347 Improvement Project.

The project’s purpose is to revamp a 15-mile stretch of the highway between Interstate 10 and the city of Maricopa. The section of road runs through both Maricopa and Pinal counties, but for the most part is located within the Gila River Indian Community.

Follow @KTAR923