PHOENIX – The gap between the creation of the Arizona Republican Party and the pro-Trump wing widened when committee members condemned Republican Governor Doug Ducey; Cindy McCain, widow of Senator John McCain, the party’s 2008 presidential candidate; and former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake.
Republicans have also re-elected Kelli Ward, a major donor to Donald Trump. Backed by Mr. Trump, she had traded barbs with Mr. Ducey and other establishment figures and pushed for the censure to go ahead.
“This election cycle has revealed that we have too much favoritism in our party from top to bottom,” she said.
Arizona’s Republican divisions are reflected in other states in the wake of Mr. Trump’s election loss and the January 6 uprising at the Capitol. Ten Republican members of the House who voted to impeach Mr. Trump for urging supporters to protest against the Capitol become the target of primary challenges.
In Kentucky, Senator Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) Saturday repelled a small group of Trump loyalists who oppose his comments that he is open to sentencing Mr. Trump in his senate process.