Arizona Democratic Party Implodes as Party Chairman Accuses Senators Kelly, Gallego of Threats and Intimidation
21st April 2025
Arizona Democratic Party chairman Robert Branscomb II accused his party’s U.S. senators of trying to intimidate and coerce him, prompting sharp rebukes from state and federal officials and pointing to a deep rupture in the state party.
Branscomb alleged in a Saturday morning email to party members that Arizona senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, “threatened” and “intimidated” him after he appointed an executive director who is not their preferred choice. According to Branscomb, one of the senators vowed to “no longer support or participate in state party fundraising,” while the other told Branscomb to reverse the decision or “face consequences.”
Within hours, Arizona’s Democratic officials—in a statement sent by party vice chair Aaron Marquez—fired back. The senators—along with Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and Attorney General Kris Mayes—said that “the Chair has lost our trust” and slammed Branscomb’s accusation as “the kind of bad-faith response we’ve come to expect from leadership,” according to Arizona’s 12News.