Arizona Republicans censure Cindy McCain, GOP governor - POLITICO

The votes demonstrate the party leadership's loyalty to Donald Trump.

Arizona Republicans voted Saturday to censure Cindy McCain, the widow of former Arizona Sen.

PHOENIX — Arizona Republicans voted Saturday to censure Cindy McCain and two prominent GOP members who have found themselves crosswise with former President Donald Trump.

But they show the party’s foot soldiers are focused on enforcing loyalty to Trump, even in the wake of an election that saw Arizona inch away from its staunchly Republican roots.

The Arizona GOP’s combative focus has delighted Trump’s staunchest supporters and worried Republican insiders who have watched the party lose ground in the suburbs as the influence of its traditional conservative establishment has faded in favor of Trump6

Are we going to be the conservative party?” said Kirk Adams, a former state House speaker and chief of staff to Ducey.

Nowhere is the question more acute than Arizona, where the state GOP’s unflinching loyalty to Trump stands out even in a party that’s been remade everywhere in the image of the former president.

After dominating Arizona politics for decades, Republicans now find themselves on their heels in the state’s highest offices.

President Joe Biden narrowly eked out a victory here, becoming just the second Democrat in more than five decades to win the state.

In a brief interview, Ward acknowledged “disappointment at the top of the ticket” but said she and many other Republicans still question the results showing victories for Biden and Democratic Sen.

Flake was one of the few congressional Republicans who was openly critical of Trump for failing to adhere to conservative values