Primary elections in Arizona were especially polarizing within the Republican Party, with a slate of Trump-endorsed candidates winning nominations for major office.
Chuck Coughlin, CEO of the Phoenix-based political consulting firm, HighGround, said the GOP’s electorate is showing less and less tolerance for moderates, who are often described as RINOs — and acronym for or "Republican in name only."
Coughlin says attacks by Republicans against their own are hurting the party.
"The RINO narrative, you’re shooting your own people. You know, these are people that are Republicans," Coughlin said. "And you’re calling them a 'Republican in name only,' and 'I’m gonna go RINO hunting.' Well, the end result of that is you’re sending those people right into the laps of the Democrats."
Coughlin says the success of the Trump-backed candidates in November’s general election could dictate the party’s future in Arizona.
