Arizona Senate Candidate Calls for GOP Chair’s Resignation Over Leaked Audio Scandal

Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake has called for the resignation of the state’s GOP chair, Jeff DeWit, following the emergence of a controversial audio recording. The recording, which allegedly captures DeWit proposing financial incentives to dissuade Lake from running for office, has ignited a political firestorm.

Speaking at former President Trump’s New Hampshire primary victory party, Lake expressed her firm stance, declaring, “He’s gotta resign. We can’t have somebody who is corrupt and compromised running the Republican Party.”

The audio, initially reported by The Daily Mail, implies that DeWit offered financial inducements to persuade Lake to refrain from entering the political arena for a two-year period. However, the authenticity of the recording remains unverified.

In the purported recording, DeWit is heard stating, “There are very powerful people who want to keep you out,” hinting at influential figures from the “east.” The conversation takes a contentious turn when DeWit suggests a financial arrangement, prompting Lake to assert, “I can be bought? That’s what it’s about.”

DeWit continues, suggesting a temporary hiatus: “You can take a pause for a couple of years. You can go right back to what you’re doing.” Undeterred, Lake vehemently rejects any monetary offer, stating she would not accept “a billion dollars” to withdraw from the Senate race.

While The Hill could not independently verify the recording’s authenticity, the potential scandal has cast a shadow over DeWit’s role as the state party chair. DeWit assumed the position in January of the previous year, having previously served as the chief operating officer for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 White House campaigns.

Kari Lake, a former news anchor and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, has encountered resistance in her Senate bid. The leaked audio suggests that influential forces within the party may prefer a different candidate with stronger fundraising capabilities. Lake, known for championing Trump’s false election fraud claims, has faced legal challenges related to her 2022 gubernatorial loss.

Responding to calls for DeWit’s resignation, Lake indicated that she had not yet identified a replacement. She emphasized her primary focus on removing what she described as “corrupt people” from positions of influence within the party.

Adding to the pressure on DeWit, Craig Berland, the chair of the Maricopa County GOP, also called for his resignation on Monday. In a statement addressing the recording, Berland asserted, “If this is, in fact, true, I’m asking AZGOP Chairman Jeff DeWit to resign.”

The unfolding scandal comes at a critical juncture, with polling indicating a closely contested race for the Arizona Senate seat. In a recent poll, Lake held a slim lead over Rep. Ruben Gallego, the leading Democratic candidate, in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. However, if incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema chose to run for reelection, Gallego secured a one-point lead in the poll, setting the stage for a highly competitive electoral battle.

As the political drama continues to unfold, the Arizona GOP faces a critical moment of reckoning, grappling with allegations of impropriety that could have far-reaching implications for the upcoming elections.