Growing discontent among Democrats in Arizona is raising alarms about the potential consequences for the party in 2026 and beyond.
Just a few months into his role as chairman of the Arizona Democrats, party members have voiced increasing frustration with Robert E. Brands.com II over several issues. These include the public release of grievances about elected Democratic officials, the management and allocation of party budgets, and the suspension of officials from other party roles.
Branscomb urged Arizona Democrats to exercise patience, asserting that his position entails a steep learning curve and that complaints within the party cannot be easily addressed. A petition calling for a special meeting to deliberate on Brands.com’s potential removal has garnered signatures from numerous members of the Arizona Democratic National Committee.
In preparation for an upcoming state committee meeting that has sparked discomfort, some members fear that unresolved disputes may jeopardize party funding and coordinated campaign efforts ahead of the 2026 elections.
“We’ve run out of money, so what will we do?” asked a committee member who wished to remain anonymous for candid dialogue.
“Who’s going to lead… If you don’t have the financial backing, then how can the party thrive?”
Since Brands.com’s election as chairman in January, the morale among Arizona Democrats has been low.
Months into his tenure, he accused the party of bullying two Democratic senators regarding the new executive director, prompting Governor Katy Hobbs (D), Attorney General Chris (D), and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) to issue a joint statement denouncing Brands.com.
Recently, he suspended first vice-chairman Kim Cooley pending an investigation into “potential violations of the ADP Code of Conduct and administrative procedures.” According to the Republic of Arizona, the contents of the suspension letter were revealed.
Concerns have also arisen over party financing, as recent estimates indicate that the Arizona Democratic Party may deplete its funds by year’s end if current tax rates persist.
Longtime state officials believed financial resources would funnel into the state for elections and congressional races, but they expressed doubt, stating, “as long as he’s involved, it won’t flow through the party at this point.”
In a previous interview with the Republic of Arizona, Brands.com insisted that Democrats must allow him time to acclimate to his responsibilities, emphasizing the need for patience. He acknowledged that some decisions may have been better handled, but he argued that the circumstances upon assuming the role left him at a disadvantage.
The Hill reached out to Brands.com on Thursday, but he was unavailable for immediate comments and did not respond to requests for further input.
While some party members empathize with the challenges of leadership, they disapprove of Brands.com’s decision to publicly address the two senators.
“I wouldn’t agree with that,” commented a veteran state committee member concerning Brands.com’s remarks to the Republic of Arizona.
“The issue makes communications nearly impossible to recover.”
Disputes within party ranks are not novel. Former Arizona GOP chair Jeff DeWitt stepped down early last year following a leaked conversation with Kari Lake.
In Nevada in 2023, Democrats ousted their chair, Judith Whitmer, prompting calls for additional resignations within the party ahead of elections.
While some members view internal conflicts as trivial, others assert that they will secure the resources necessary for success next year, especially through county political parties working to raise funds.
“I see it as a temporary inconvenience rather than something that will truly influence the election,” stated a party insider, arguing that the discord isn’t rooted in ideological divisions.
Nonetheless, even Democrats in Arizona who supported Brands.com in January voice concerns that the ongoing rift could detrimentally impact fundraising and organizational efforts.
“I don’t believe we have a unified, effective campaign right now,” stated Steven Jackson, chairman of Legislative District 8, who advocated for a special meeting to deliberate on Brands.com’s potential removal. Jackson supported Brands.com during the election earlier this year.
“This will affect the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and legislative races. As you know, our attorney general won by a narrow margin of 250 votes, and the governor’s race was exceedingly close,” Jackson remarked, recalling the competitive race against Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.) in 2022, which was decided by just 280 votes.
Despite the growing complaints against Branscomb, removing him as chair remains a significant hurdle. A two-thirds majority of the entire state commission is necessary for his removal.
Some members question whether there exist enough discontented Democrats to reach that threshold.
“That’s a high bar, so it’s challenging to gauge,” noted one seasoned state committee member. “However, the longer he stays, the more trust and confidence he erodes.”
Source: thehill.com