Trump picks Dhillon to lead AZ election integrity program
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Attorney and conservative activist Harmeet Dhillon. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
The Arizona Republican Party brought in attorney and Trump loyalist Harmeet Dhillon to run its election integrity operation as early voting kicked off in the Grand Canyon State.
Why it matters: Dhillon's new role could signal the Republicans' intent to take a more aggressive approach to elections in Arizona, where election denialism has run rampant and former President Trump's MAGA base has clamored for showdowns over election policies and procedures.
- "She will spearhead critical legal battles, stop the many attacks on the integrity of our elections, and lead our winning election integrity team to Protect the Vote," Trump campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles and RNC and RNC co-chairs Lara Trump and Michael Whatley said in a press statement.
- Early voting in Arizona began Wednesday.
- Election experts expect a significant amount of litigation over the election in Arizona this year, similarly to 2020 and 2022.
The big picture: The AZGOP, Republican National Committee and Trump campaign announced Tuesday night they'd launched an "unprecedented" election integrity program.
- "We are committed to an honest and secure election system, that counts every legal vote properly. Arizonans, and Americans, deserve nothing less, and we are full steam ahead in our unprecedented dedication to Election Integrity," AZGOP chair Gina Swoboda said.
What they're saying: Swoboda tells Axios that Dhillon's new role shouldn't necessarily be taken as a sign that Republicans will be more litigious or go on offense regarding election issues in Arizona, saying the party is taking "an aggressively defensive posture."
- She says Dhillon's appointment is a sign that Trump knows how important Arizona is.
- "As long as everybody's being compliant, there's nothing to worry about. But in the event that things start to go off-kilter, then we'll take whatever actions necessary to secure the election," Swoboda said.
Catch up quick: Dhillon, a California attorney and conservative activist, ran for RNC chair in 2023 backed by prominent Trump supporters.
- She lost to Ronna McDaniel, who resigned in February.
- Dhillon has filed lawsuits over free speech issues on behalf of Republicans, defending Second Amendment rights and challenging COVID-19 restrictions, and was a legal adviser to Trump's 2020 campaign.
- During the litigation that followed Trump's loss in 2020, Dhillon said the campaign expected the U.S. Supreme Court "to step in and do something," noting that Trump had nominated three of the nine justices and saying "hopefully Amy Coney Barrett will come through."