Pro-Trump Arizona politician facing calls for audit of her own election

On Thursday, The Washington Postreported that Kelli Ward, the newly re-elected chair of the Arizona Republican Party, is facing accusations of election irregularities in the chairmanship race — after she was a key pusher of disinformation and conspiracy theories about the presidential election.

"Sergio Arellano, a Pima County small business owner who lost to Ward by 42 votes, requested a recount of all state party races on Monday, he told The Washington Post. More than two days later, he said, Arizona state party leaders — who report to Ward — have not yet scheduled the audit, which was first reported by the Arizona Republic," wrote Teo Armus.

"Arellano, who served on the advisory board for President Donald Trump's Latino campaign arm, emphasized he does not expect a recount to change the results of his race against Ward. But after dozens of other Arizona Republicans reached out to him to point out potential issues in at least two other races, he said he had to ask for a recount."

Ward, an osteopathic physician who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2018, has presided over disaster and controversy for the Arizona GOP, which under her watch has tweeted vague civil war threats from its official account and pushed election fraud lies. Republicans have lost both Arizona Senate seats and the presidential election, have moved to censure popular members of their party, and are rapidly shedding registered voters.

The party also faces troubles going forward, with GOP Gov. Doug Ducey — himself a target of the party for not doing enough to overturn the election results — term-limited out in the 2022 elections.