Arizona Republicans seem to be having a little trouble with defectors.
The chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Committee is on a quest for committee members who have endorsed Democratic, independent or Libertarian candidates in the state, according to the Arizona Republic.
In September, Chairman A.J. LaFaro wrote in a newsletter that he had received complaints about GOP committeemen endorsing non-Republican candidates and asked for people to name these individuals.
“It’s bad enough these people endorse RINOs (‘Republicans in name only’) for elected office, but then turn around and endorse Democrats, independents and Libertarians over some of our Republican nominees,” LaFaro wrote in the newsletter, according to the Arizona Republic. “I’m as outraged at these so-called Republicans as you are. We are in the process of trying to identify any Republican PCs who are endorsing and supporting Non-Republicans, and will be removing their voting rights and censuring them in accordance to the 2014 MCRC Bylaws.”
Members of the committee have apparently supported Fred DuVal, the Democratic candidate for governor and Felecia Rotellini, the Democratic attorney general candidate.
On Tuesday, LaFaro sent letters to 12 members of the county GOP committee to tell them they may no longer be able to vote at committee meetings. The defectors will be able to defend themselves at a Nov. 6 meeting, according to the Arizona Republic.
One letter sent to a committeeman, which was shared with the Arizona Republic, listed the members of the committee who identified those who supported Democratic candidates.
Since the letters were sent, one member of the committee has already convinced LaFaro that he does not support DuVal.
Committee member Susan Charlton received a letter, but had told the committee she would support DuVal when the GOP recruited her to run for the committee.
“This is not the Republican Party that I signed up for,” she told the Arizona Republic. “And I wouldn’t do it any differently — I would still support Fred. I’m always going to vote my conscience.”
