President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. His death followed nearly two years in hospice care and the death of his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at age 96 in November 2023. In response to Carter’s passing, Arizona political leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties offered rare and non-partisan expressions of sympathy and mourning.
The Arizona Republican Party succinctly posted, “Rest in Peace President Carter,” a simple direct message to address the passing of a political opponent.
The Arizona Democratic Party meanwhile offered a lengthier post writing, “The Arizona Democratic Party mourns the passing of Jimmy Carter, a man of profound humility, compassion, and dedication to humanity. President Carter moved our nation forward, from brokering peace in the Middle East to championing women’s rights.”
The Arizona Democratic Party mourns the passing of Jimmy Carter, a man of profound humility, compassion, and dedication to humanity.
President Carter moved our nation forward, from brokering peace in the Middle East to championing women’s rights. https://t.co/4lPtyNCABt
Arizona Senate Democrats courted controversy in their post writing, “Rest in Power,” as opposed to the traditional “Rest in Peace.”
One commenter replied, “Rest in power? Don’t disrespect a legendary man by saying something he wouldn’t have said. Recognize him for who he was.” Another chastised the AZ Senate Dems writing, “What dei hire wrote this? Rest in power? Lame.”
Embattled Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs offered the following: “President Jimmy Carter lived an exemplary life of service, fighting for peace and prosperity across the globe. On behalf of the State of Arizona, we send our love to the Carter Family and the millions worldwide whose lives are better because of President Carter’s legacy.”
President Jimmy Carter lived an exemplary life of service, fighting for peace and prosperity across the globe.
On behalf of the State of Arizona, we send our love to the Carter Family and the millions worldwide whose lives are better because of President Carter's legacy.
Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote a lengthier post, sharing the story from The Washington Post: “America has lost a true servant leader. President Jimmy Carter’s century-long life was defined by his integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving his country and his fellow man.”
She continued, “From his military service to his leadership in the White House — and his tireless work with Habitat for Humanity and global humanitarian efforts — he showed us what it truly means to live for others. Rest in peace, President Carter.”
From his military service to his leadership in the White House — and his tireless work with Habitat for Humanity and global humanitarian efforts — he showed us what it truly means to live for others. Rest in peace, President Carter.
Democrat Senator Mark Kelly highlighted Carter’s philanthropy after his presidency, in addition to his human rights work writing, “Always humble, President Carter showed us that public service isn’t limited to elected office. He leaves a legacy not just as a president, but as a great American who wore the uniform, built homes for his neighbors, and worked for human rights across the globe.”
Always humble, President Carter showed us that public service isn’t limited to elected office. He leaves a legacy not just as a president, but as a great American who wore the uniform, built homes for his neighbors, and worked for human rights across the globe. https://t.co/dSMsydpbBK
Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, like his fellow Democrat Kelly, offered a short post of condolences writing, “A life dedicated to peace, justice, and compassion. Rest in peace, President Jimmy Carter. Sydney and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family.”
A life dedicated to peace, justice, and compassion. Rest in peace, President Jimmy Carter. Sydney and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family. https://t.co/MGXbh7uyw3
Democrat Congressman Greg Stanton released a statement addressing Carter’s service as a naval officer, the Governor of Georgia, and his presidency. He wrote, “Above all, he was an honorable man with unimpeachable character. Guided by his deep Christian faith, he built homes for the needy and taught Sunday School well into his 90s. He set a fine example for each of us for what it means to love thy neighbor.”
On the Republican side of Congress, Congressman Andy Biggs called upon supporters to join in prayer “for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter.” He wrote in full, “Please join me in praying for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter. President Carter passed away this afternoon at the age of 100. I pray that peace surrounds all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.”
Please join me in praying for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter.
President Carter passed away this afternoon at the age of 100.
I pray that peace surrounds all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.
Congressman-elect Abe Hamadeh also highlighted Carter’s humanitarian work writing, “Yesterday, we lost a great humanitarian. President Jimmy Carter was a proud Navy veteran and compassionate humanitarian. He dedicated his life to serving his country and community. His legacy of kindness will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, President Carter.”
Yesterday, we lost a great humanitarian. President Jimmy Carter was a proud Navy veteran and compassionate humanitarian. He dedicated his life to serving his country and community. His legacy of kindness will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, President Carter. pic.twitter.com/azzCQcfzn5
Carter’s upcoming state funeral is slated for January 9th and could potentially run for ten days until the 19th, just one day prior to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Amidst calls from the radical left for Trump to be barred from the proceedings, Arizona’s political figures largely kept remarks on the death of Carter civil and solemn in an example the rest of the nation could hopefully follow.
The Arizona Republican leader instrumental in delivering her state for the 47th President of the United States is reportedly running for re-election for chair of her party.
Earlier this month, Garrett Archer, a journalist with ABC15 News, revealed that Gina Swoboda, the current chair of the Republican Party of Arizona, would be running for re-election to her post in January, and that she would be supported by President-elect Donald J. Trump.
The news quickly spread among Arizona Republicans, and several expressed their delight with this reported decision. Arizona Senate President Pro-Tempore T.J. Shope posted, “She has Donald Trump’s support and she has my support! Let’s all rally behind Gina Swoboda for AZGOP Chair!!!”
Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp added, “The Boss knows she is the best woman for the job! And so does Arizona! Looking forward to winning 2026 with Gina Swoboda as the State Party Chair!”
The Boss knows she is the best woman for the job! And so does Arizona! Looking forward to winning 2026 with @GinaSwoboda as the State Party Chair! https://t.co/1Db3wy4k8c
Swoboda was unexpectedly pressed into action as chair of state Republican party in January after a vacancy occurred. After quickly securing the endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump, Swoboda had no trouble sailing to victory in the snap election among state committeemen. Her top priority as chair was to re-deliver Arizona’s electoral votes for Trump in November, which she did last month for the General Election.
On Election Night, Swoboda issued a statement of victory after seeing a number of positive results around her state, writing, “This victory is a testament to the grit and determination of Arizonans who believe in the American Dream. We focused on what matters – keeping families safe, bringing down the cost of living, securing our border, and reviving American greatness. We have sent a clear message to Washington: Arizona is red, and when we unite, WE WIN!”
🚨AZGOP On Track for Huge Wins as Trump and Vance Claim Victory🚨
The @AZGOP proudly congratulates President-Elect @realDonaldTrump and Vice President-Elect @JDVance on their HISTORIC victory! As we await the final count of all ballots, the energy and enthusiasm for Republicans…
One night later, after her state was called for Trump, Swoboda posted, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to help elect 45/47. Thank you for believing in me Donald Trump. Thank you AZGOP for allowing me to make history with our beautiful State 48.”
When Trump visited Tempe in late October, he made sure to address Swoboda’s tireless work to help turn out the votes for him and other Republicans across the state, saying, “This woman has done a job […] especially early voting, and we are doing record successful numbers, and I think it’s gonna stay that way. Gina Swoboda, great job – thank you!”
“The @AZGOP Chairwoman has done a job […] especially early voting and we are doing record successful numbers, and I think it’s gonna stay that way. @GinaSwoboda, great job, thank you.”
Under Swoboda’s leadership, Trump won Arizona with a greater margin than he did in 2016; Republicans expanded their majorities in the state House and Senate; incumbent Republican U.S. Congressmen held their seats; Republicans swept the three statewide Arizona Corporation Commission positions, and a key border security measure sailed to victory.
Swoboda’s reported intent to run for re-election for AZGOP chair would likely set up a match-up with State Representative Cory McGarr, who announced his decision to run for the party’s top post earlier this month after losing his seat in the Arizona Legislature. Former Republican candidate for Arizona Governor and U.S. Senate, Kari Lake, thanked McGarr “for getting in this race.”
The AZGOP chair for the next election cycle in 2026 will be critical for Republican efforts to take back major statewide offices – Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. Arizona Republicans will have the chance to decide who is the best fit to lead them forward when they reconvene in the new year at the annual AZGOP meeting in Phoenix.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Republican Party cast its votes for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
“With a decisive victory, Arizonans delivered a clear mandate: return to common sense, security, prosperity and liberty,” said the Arizona GOP. “God bless America and let the Golden Age begin!”
Today, the @AZGOP and Chair @GinaSwoboda proudly cast their votes for President Trump and J.D. Vance!
With a decisive victory, Arizonans delivered a clear mandate: return to common sense, security, prosperity and liberty.
Trump won Arizona with over 52 percent of the vote (over 1.7 million votes) to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s 46.7 percent (over 1.5 million votes).
As a swing state once again this election, Arizona delivered 11 electoral votes for Republicans. The flip from the 2020 election marked a key victory in an overall decisive comeback for Trump.
The president-elect not only secured but swept all seven battleground states: Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Trump won 312 electoral votes over the 226 pulled by Harris.
Trump won with a greater margin than Joe Biden did in 2020. In the last presidential election, Biden won 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. Democrats flipped the key swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump matched Trump’s 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton (both securing 306 electoral votes), meaning Trump outdid his 2016 performance in addition to his comeback from his 2020 election loss.
Trump’s victory didn’t translate to flipped congressional seats in Arizona. Incumbents held their seats within their parties. However, Republicans did expand their slim majority in the state legislature.
The open Senate seat vacated by independent Kyrsten Sinema was nabbed by Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego, who emerged victorious with 50 percent of the vote (an 80,600-vote lead) to Republican candidate Kari Lake’s 47 percent.
Lake’s loss didn’t take her out of the political arena, however. Lake secured a spot within Trump’s administration as the director of the federally funded Voice of America (VOA), an entity within the U.S. Agency for Global Media. VOA’s current director is Michael Abramowitz, formerly the president of the DC-based nonprofit Freedom House and longtime reporter with The Washington Post.
Incumbent Democratic Reps. Raúl Grijalva and Greg Stanton defended their seats from Republican challengers. Likewise, incumbent Republican Reps. David Schweikert, Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, and Paul Gosar defended their seats from Democratic challengers.
Although his seat was hotly contested, Ciscomani fended off a challenge from repeat Democratic candidate Kirsten Engel.
Abe Hamadeh, a Republican, secured the open District 8 seat left by Debbie Lesko. Unlike Lake, Hamadeh successfully navigated the loss of a statewide seat in 2022 to nab a higher seat this year.
In the state legislature, Arizona Republicans flipped a net total of three seats: one in the state senate, and three in the state house (another seat in the house flipped blue). Republicans expanded their majority from 16-14 to 17-13 in the senate and from 31-29 to 33-27 in the house.
The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) claimed in a statement on the legislative expansion that Arizona Republicans outperformed Democrats despite leftwing groups having spent over $9 million.
The inauguration is scheduled to take place on Jan. 20, 2025.
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An outgoing Arizona legislator is running for Republican Party Chair.
Last week, Republican State Representative Cory McGarr announced his candidacy for Chairman of the Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP).
In a statement posted to his X account, McGarr said, “Thanks to our Party’s incredible grassroots and the most robust ballot chase operation in the history of the Republic, Arizona delivered a resounding victory for President Donald Trump and Republicans at nearly every level of the ballot.”
Today, I’m proud to announce my candidacy for Chairman of the Republican Party of Arizona.
Thanks to our Party’s incredible grassroots and the most robust ballot chase operation in the history of the Republic, Arizona delivered a resounding victory for President @realDonaldTrump… pic.twitter.com/VWwT2KGnbx
McGarr added, “During these crucial first two years of the incoming Trump administration it is imperative that we have an AZGOP Chairman committed to the job and committed to ensuring President Trump has the support he needs and deserves in this critical swing state. If you entrust me with your vote for state party Chairman, I promise to further empower the grassroots, fearlessly advocate for the America First agenda, maintain our focus on doing more to secure our elections, grow our Republican numbers in the midterms, and most importantly FIRE KATIE HOBBS, KRIS MAYES AND ADRIAN FONTES.”
Former Arizona Republican Governor and Senate nominee, Kari Lake, reacted to the news, posting, “Cory is a grassroots legend and he will work tirelessly to achieve true Election Integrity in Arizona. Thanks for getting in this race, Cory McGarr.”
Cory is a grassroots legend and he will work tirelessly to achieve true Election Integrity in Arizona.
McGarr revealed that both Arizona National Committeeman, Jake Hoffman, and National Committeewoman, Liz Harris, supported his candidacy.
The one-term Republican legislator narrowly lost his seat, when Democrats ran a single-shot candidate in State House District 17. McGarr’s seatmate, Rachel Jones, finished second to Democrat Kevin Volk.
Representative McGarr’s entrance into the AZGOP race potentially sets up a match-up with incumbent chair, Gina Swoboda, who was pressed into duty at the beginning of this year when the position became vacant. Swoboda was responsible for raising money for the party and ensuring that President Trump and Republican candidates up and down the ballot achieved victory. Under her leadership, Trump won Arizona with a greater margin than he did in 2016; Republicans expanded their majorities in the state House and Senate; incumbent Republican U.S. Congressmen held their seats, and a key border security measure sailed to victory.
Swoboda was endorsed by President Donald J. Trump prior to her runaway win for chair in January’s AZGOP meeting. She made his victory in Arizona her primary mission, and was successful with her goal there.
As McGarr stated, the AZGOP chair for the next election cycle will be critical for Republican efforts to take back major statewide offices – Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. Arizona Republicans will have the chance to decide who is the best fit to lead them forward when they reconvene in the new year at the annual AZGOP meeting in Phoenix.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s Republican Party Chair accomplished her stated desire to help elect President Donald J. Trump to the White House.
Gina Swoboda didn’t have a lot of time for on-the-job training when she unexpectedly took the helm of the Republican Party of Arizona at the beginning of this year. However, despite the issues of a short runway to unite the party, raise money, and get out the vote for Republican candidates and values, Swoboda and her team managed to meet the daunting challenge before them.
When Swoboda was elected by a vast majority of Arizona Republican activists in January, she praised President Trump for his support and vowed her dedication to his election efforts. She said, “Arizona is the key to the presidency. I was proud to have the support of President Trump in this victory to lead the AZGOP into the most important election of our lifetime. Now it’s time to turn out every last vote for the 47th President DONALD J TRUMP!”
Arizona is the key to the presidency
I was proud to have the support of President Trump in this victory to lead the AZGOP into the most important election of our lifetime
Now it’s time to turn out every last vote for the 47th President, DONALD J TRUMP!https://t.co/ihDMpdMGQj
That mission was met in Arizona with President-Elect Trump capturing the state’s eleven electoral votes. While ballots are still being counted across most counties in Arizona, Trump will likely win by a larger number than he did when he won the state in 2016.
Barring a reversal in any of the races, all three of the Arizona Corporation Commissioner spots will be filled by Republicans, giving the party unanimous control of the important state panel.
Both the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives appear to be in Republican control after Tuesday’s elections, returning the state to a divided government for the next two years, and preventing Democrats from unrestrained power to dismantle Arizona’s broad school choice and Second Amendment freedoms – as well as other things that may be on their to-do list.
Additionally, Republicans are tracking toward significant victories in most of the posts for Maricopa County Offices, including County Attorney, Sheriff, School Superintendent, Recorder, and majority control of the Board of Supervisors.
On Election Night, Swoboda issued a statement of victory after seeing a number of positive results around her state, writing, “This victory is a testament to the grit and determination of Arizonans who believe in the American Dream. We focused on what matters – keeping families safe, bringing down the cost of living, securing our border, and reviving American greatness. We have sent a clear message to Washington: Arizona is red, and when we unite, WE WIN!”
🚨AZGOP On Track for Huge Wins as Trump and Vance Claim Victory🚨
The @AZGOP proudly congratulates President-Elect @realDonaldTrump and Vice President-Elect @JDVance on their HISTORIC victory! As we await the final count of all ballots, the energy and enthusiasm for Republicans…
One night later, after her state was called for Trump, Swoboda posted, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to help elect 45/47. Thank you for believing in me Donald Trump. Thank you AZGOP for allowing me to make history with our beautiful State 48.”
If Swoboda returns as the party’s chair next year, she again faces a tall challenge with most of Arizona’s statewide offices up for grabs. Republicans will be seeking to take back the Governor’s, Attorney General’s, and Secretary of State’s Offices, maintain control of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s and Treasurer’s Offices, and keep the state legislature.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
