‘Circular firing squad’: Battleground Dems brace for midterm backlash in 'major setback'

Arizona Democrats are rushing to contain the political damage from internal feuding that has consumed the state party and its top officials, worried the infighting could cost them in the upcoming midterms.

That’s according to Politico, which reported Friday that the squabble in Arizona emerged after the state’s party chair, Robert E. Branscomb II, accused Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) of using their financial contributions to exert undue influence over him.

That set off a chain reaction of terse public letters containing accusations from some of the state’s top elected officials, including Gallego, Kelly, Gov. Katie Hobbs, and Arizona’s secretary of state and attorney general.

Now, Democrats are warning that the breakdown of key internal relationships could jeopardize the party’s chances in the midterm elections as they look to county organizations to funnel their fundraising resources, the publication added.

“It’s a major setback for Democrats in a state where Republicans were known for years for infighting and dysfunction — but where the left is now reeling,” Politico reported.

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And it “could not come at a worse time for Democrats, who are desperate to reelect Gov. Katie Hobbs and several other statewide elected officials next year,” the Friday report added.

Arizona Democratic strategist Stacy Pearson said the party has “two jobs.”

“Raise money, register voters, and I have no idea how airing this dirty laundry accomplishes either of those goals,” she told Politico. “This public circular firing squad is remarkably unhelpful.”

Pearson wasn’t alone in her frustration over the fiasco.

“We have critical elections a year ahead of us,” Steven Slugocki, a former chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, is quoted as saying. “We can’t have any of these distractions. We’ve got statewides to win and a legislature to flip. We need a strong party. It’s more critical than ever that we have a strong, united party.”

Branscomb now faces mounting pressure to resign. But even if he steps down, some Democrats worry the damage may already be done.

“I mean, the infrastructure is in disarray,” Pearson told Politico. “So, I mean, at this point, I’m not sure if [a leadership change] matters.”