When Jeff DeWit took the reins of the
Arizona Republican Celebration in January, the get together had greater than $152,000
in its federal marketing campaign account. Seven months later, the AZGOP has
burned by way of greater than 90% of these money reserves and doesn’t have
sufficient cash to pay its payments.
The get together’s most up-to-date federal marketing campaign finance report
exhibits simply how dire the state of affairs is for Republicans heading right into a
monumentally vital 2024 election yr, throughout which the AZGOP will
be overseeing efforts to win the presidency, seize a U.S. Senate seat
and preserve management of the Legislature.
On the finish of August, the get together had
simply $14,800 left within the financial institution. Throughout that month, the get together spent almost
$89,000 — greater than twice the roughly $44,000 in revenues it reported.
However the AZGOP solely paid about $57,000 of these payments, and took on nearly
$32,000 in debt.
That’s sparking concern for some Republicans, who concern the get together is now on an unsustainable path.
“If this retains up, it’s inevitable
they’ll go broke,” mentioned Chris Baker, a Scottsdale-based political
marketing consultant whose shoppers embody U.S. Rep. David Schweikert.
A spokeswoman for the Arizona Republican Celebration didn’t return a request for remark.
Due to marketing campaign finance legal guidelines, the
events should function separate accounts for cash spent to assist elect
federal candidates and funds used to bolster state and native hopefuls.
The federal marketing campaign account is the lifeblood of any political get together,
and guidelines require that its funds be used to pay for all get together workers.
Prices for workers and different administrative capabilities are sometimes cut up with
the state account, however a bankrupt federal account would imply the AZGOP
can not pay its workers.
The August fundraising figures are
dismal for the Arizona Republican Celebration: It solely raised $18,321 in
contributions from people, and the remaining $26,000 or so in
revenues was a switch from the AZGOP’s state marketing campaign finance
account.
The figures are a pointy drop from poor fundraising in July, when the get together raised lower than $24,000 from particular person donors and ended the month with solely $28,000 readily available.
Baker famous that there have been no giant
donors to the AZGOP in August, and the biggest contribution was $500,
which got here from a development govt in Wisconsin.
That the get together isn’t even taking in
sufficient cash to cowl its month-to-month payments is regarding sufficient, Baker
mentioned, however that’s amplified by the truth that the Arizona Republican Celebration
in June took out a mortgage to buy a whole flooring of a midtown Phoenix workplace constructing for its new headquarters.
DeWit received a contested election for
chairman of the get together when its members selected new leaders in late
January. A key element of his marketing campaign was a pledge to “drastically enhance fundraising” over his predecessor, Kelli Ward.
DeWit was a high staffer for Donald
Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns — he was the chief finance and chief
working officer in 2016, and chief working officer in 2020 — and he
positioned himself as the one candidate who would be capable of elevate the
cash the AZGOP would should be efficient in 2024. He boasted that he
oversaw “over $1 billion in marketing campaign fundraising” for Trump, which might
serve him properly helming the state get together.
“I wish to convey this experience to
Arizona to present us a fundraising, floor sport, candidate recruitment,
media coaching, and organizational management benefit over the
Democrats,” he wrote in a single marketing campaign pitch.
Baker mentioned it’s essential for
Republicans in Arizona to have a wholesome and efficient state get together,
one thing that it received’t have if DeWit doesn’t flip this fundraising
trajectory round shortly.
“If I used to be Jeff DeWit, my solely
precedence going ahead can be to have interaction in donor outreach and make the
case — publicly and privately — that it is a new regime, and we’re
going to be laser-focused on electing Republicans,” he mentioned.