Top Arizona Democrats are taking the unorthodox step of circumventing the state party by fundraising through the Navajo County Democratic Committee.
The chair of Navajo Democrats hopes it’s only a temporary strategy.
With the state party mired by infighting and poor finances, the state’s top elected Democrats — including Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes — turned to Missa Foy, the chair of the Navajo County Democratic Committee.
Foy will serve as something of a liaison for Copper State Victory, a coordinated fundraising effort to help Democrats like Hobbs, Mayes and Fontes, get reelected in 2026.
But Foy told KJZZ it’s her expectation that Copper State is a temporary fix. While 2026 is a midterm election with important races for statewide office, Foy says there’s bigger fish to fry in 2028.
“In 2028, we’ll be preparing for [the U.S] Senate as well as a presidential race, and that works better with the state party,” Foy said.
The state of the Arizona Democratic Party, while now dire, could look different by the next election cycle — party officials have scheduled a vote to possibly oust chair Robert Branscomb next week.
Legislative District 8 Democratic Chair Steven Jackson filed the petition to remove Branscomb and said he thinks Foy would be a good choice for state party chair.
But Foy said Thursday that she doesn’t want the job.
“I would not accept the nomination … It’s not a job I have the capacity for,” she said.
