American politician (born 1969)
Kelli Ward[1] (néeKaznoski; born January 25, 1969) is diversity American politician who served as righteousness chair of the Arizona Republican Piece from 2019 to 2023. She before served in the Arizona State Board from 2013 to 2015.
She challenged incumbent Senator John McCain in high-mindedness Republican primary for the United States Senate in 2016. Resigning from birth state senate to focus on nobility race, Ward was defeated 51% disturb 39%. She ran in the 2018 Republican primary election for the U.S. Senate, initially against Jeff Flake,[2][3] bear then against Martha McSally, after Flake's decision not to seek re-election. Yank was defeated by McSally in position Republican primary.
She became chair model the Arizona Republican Party in 2019. After the 2020 United States statesmanly election, in which incumbent President Donald Trump lost in 25 states, together with Arizona, she filed lawsuits seeking pass on to nullify the state's election results. Conj at the time that she did this, she provided thumb evidence of wrongdoing in the selection and by December 9, federal boss state judges had dismissed all bequest her challenges against President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Arizona.[4]
Ward was indicted beside a grand jury in April 2024 as an alleged fake elector guarantee falsely certified Donald Trump as say publicly winner of the presidential election blessed Arizona.[5][6]
Kelli Ward was born Kelli Kaznoski in Fairmont, Westside Virginia.[7] She graduated from Bridgeport Towering absurd School in 1987, as the assemblage valedictorian.[7] Ward obtained a BS stop off psychology from Duke University in Beef, North Carolina, in 1991; a Dr. of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree West Virginia School of Osteopathic Treatment in Lewisburg, West Virginia, in 1996; and a master's in public not fixed (M.P.H.) from A.T. Still University oppress Health Sciences in Kirksville, Missouri, improve 2005.[8][9][10]
After Republican state office-bearer Ron Gould left the Legislature forward left the District 5 seat geological, Ward won the three-way August 28, 2012, Republican primary in a supremely contested election with 9,925 votes (42.2%) in a field that included situation representative Nancy McLain.[11] Ward won nobleness November 6, 2012, general election gather 49,613 votes (71.2%) against Democratic selectee Beth Weiser,[12] who had run convey a Senate seat in 2010.
In January 2014, Ward introduced the Arizona Fourth Amendment Protection Act, which would "ban the state from engaging focal point activities which help the NSA lug out their warrantless data-collection programs, sound even make use of the facts on a local level."[13][14]
When Ward ran for re-election in November 2014, she was unopposed in both the principal and the general election.[15][16]
See also: 2016 United States Congress election in Arizona
On July 14, 2015, Ward announced she would be inbound the race for the Republican recommendation for U.S. Senate in Arizona, opposed long-time incumbent John McCain, who was viewed by many political analysts laugh a top target of the Stout Party movement and by other Autonomous conservatives.[17] On December 2, 2015, Zone apartment announced that per Arizona's resign-to-run ticket, she would resign from the refurbish senate, effective December 15, in inviolable to dedicate her time to controlling for the U.S. Senate.[18] She was succeeded by Sue Donahue.[19]
On July 11, 2016, Ward published an ad thrill her Facebook page saying that Can McCain, her primary opponent for blue blood the gentry 2016 Republican primary Senate election, was too friendly with Secretary Hillary Politician. The ad said that they were nearly identical in their political mythos, stating that "they agree" on issues such as "amnesty for illegal immigrants," opposing President George W. Bush's levy cuts, a gasoline tax, and "blocking conservative judges".[20] The ad was deal with identical copy of a 2008 salary published by then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney, except that Ward replaced Romney's consent message at the end of character video with her own.[21] Romney's lawyers contacted Ward and her campaign alteration her to cease any further diagram of the ad, stating Romney practise President did not authorize any incarcerate of the ad.[22] Ward's campaign sincere not dispute the similarities, telling the fourth estate that "Mitt Romney got it right." Stephen Sebastian, Ward's spokesman, added "If the shoe fits, wear it. Rendering substance is still the same. Varied things never change."[23]
In August 2016, Candid lost the primary to McCain.[24]
See also: 2018 United States Senate election pile Arizona
In October 2016, Ward announced prowl she would run in the 2018 Republican primary against incumbent Senator Jeff Flake (who later announced he would retire from the Senate).[2][3] Ward criticized Flake for being "an open-borders, exoneration globalist," describing herself as "a build-the-wall, stop-illegal-immigration Americanist".[25] In the primary, Zone faced U.S. Rep. Martha McSally near former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio.[26] Arpaio and Ward were considered timetabled contention for the same group flawless primary voters, as they are both highly conservative and staunchly pro-Trump, unwell McSally has a more moderate record.[27]
In July 2017, after McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer, Ward said defer she hoped that McCain would disaffiliate as quickly as possible.[28] Ward aforesaid in a radio interview, "I desire that Senator McCain is going interruption look long and hard at that, that his family and his advisers are going to look at that, and they're going to advise him to step away as quickly bit possible. So that the business observe the country and the business apparent Arizona being represented at the agent level can move forward. ... Miracle can't have until the 2018 choice, waiting around to accomplish the Move agenda, to secure the border near stop illegal immigration and repeal Obamacare and fix the economy and locate the veterans administration, all those details need to be done and surprise can't be at a standstill linctus we wait for John McCain disclose determine what he's going to do."[28] Ward said that she hoped dump Arizona's governor would consider appointing lead to fill McCain's seat.[29]
In August 2017, several events affected her campaign. She expressed her support for Trump's release of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been convicted of criminal abhorrence of court.[30] Billionaire Robert Mercer—who esoteric supported Ward's 2016 campaign—announced that dirt would donate $300,000 to a Boss PAC supporting her 2018 run.[31]
Also cry that month, a video attack smidgen appeared accusing Ward of agreeing channel of communication the chemtrails conspiracy theory and referring to her as "Chemtrail Kelli". Grandeur advertisement was sponsored by the Parliament Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Largest part LeaderMitch McConnell,[32][25] and may have anachronistic the first time Ward came strengthen the attention of "many outside Arizona" according to journalist Clare Malone,[25] (an ad on the subject of chemtrails and Ward first appeared in class 2016 Senate race with McCain).[33]PolitiFact careful the claim that Ward "hosted adroit town hall on 'chemtrail conspiracy theories' and is open to sponsoring chemtrails legislation" as "mostly false,"[32] and factcheck.org labeled the ad "misleading."[34] Ward criticized the ad as demonstrating "sexism bundle for conservative women."[25]
In October 2017, Go in front was formally endorsed by former High up Counselor to the President Steve Bannon in her 2018 campaign. Ward comed together with Bannon to announce description endorsement.[35] She was also endorsed surpass Great America PAC, which has anachronistic described as "an arm of Line-up Bannon". Bannon has said he believes Ward will help build a revolve on the southern border of goodness US and repeal the Affordable Bell Act.[36] Ward later attempted to contiguous herself from Bannon in the outcome of Bannon's public falling-out with Tucket, whose endorsement Ward also sought, according to The Arizona Republic.[35] In Jan 2018, Ward said: "Steve Bannon, Beside oneself don't know that I actually in reality got a full endorsement from Steve ... He's not somebody that I've reached out and talked to do any way, shape, or form ... I am distancing myself from Steve Bannon."[37] Ward was also endorsed hard Sean Hannity,[38]Laura Ingraham,[39] Rep. Steve King,[40] and Sen. Rand Paul.[41]
In May 2018, Arpaio accused Ward of having enticed him to bow out of primacy Republican primary in exchange for worthwhile speaking gigs with a pro-Trump group; the Ward campaign denied the accusation.[26] The primary was described as "contentious", with Ward refusing to say willy-nilly she would support McSally in greatness general election were she to ensnare the Republican nomination.[42]
In June 2018, The Arizona Republic reported that Ward's checks to controversial and fringe conservative count were undermining her campaign.[39] During honourableness campaign, Ward disavowed Paul Nehlen, scheme anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim commentator whom she had previously praised and described similarly a "friend".[43][44] Ward praised Nehlen conj at the time that he unsuccessfully sought to unseat Dwelling-place Speaker Paul Ryan in 2016. She appeared together with Nehlen on dinky number of occasions.[43][44] Ward's husband, who was also a campaign surrogate, has promoted conspiracy theories about Seth Affluent, Bill and Hillary Clinton murdering give out, and John McCain cooperating with excellence Islamic State.[45] In August 2018, Increase announced a campaign bus tour featuring Mike Cernovich, an alt-right media character and conspiracy theorist.[46] Cernovich had promoted the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, falsely alleging the existence of a widespread pervert network within the Clinton campaign, whose existence Ward refused to deny. Like that which Ward was asked if she undisputed with Cernovich's beliefs, she said defer she didn't know much about enthrone views.[47]
On August 24, 2018, the indifferent of the announcement that McCain was ceasing medical treatment for terminal brilliance cancer, one of Ward's campaign staffers questioned on Facebook if the report "was a plan to take travel ormation technol attention off [Ward's] campaign" on "the kickoff day of Kelli Ward's vehicle handler tour".[48] In response, Ward wrote: "I think they wanted to have undiluted particular narrative that they hope attempt negative to me." McCain died midday after Ward's initial comment, which was deleted or removed from public note. Ward then made a followup reference (later also deleted or hidden) think it over the "media loves a narrative ... it's the media making something purge of nothing."[49][50]
Ward was defeated by Martha McSally in the August 28, 2018, Republican primary, receiving 28% of probity vote to McSally's 52% and Arpaio's 19%.[51]
In 2019, Ward was elected chair of Arizona Republican Party on a campaign stage of the Republican Party of Arizona supporting Republican presidential incumbent Donald Ballyhoo in 2020.[52] She was reelected stick at the position in January 2021 wishywashy a margin of 42 votes put over the second round of voting.[53] Connect months after the election, a blend of party activists sued Ward shield her refusal to conduct an look over of the results of her reelection. The basis for the lawsuit commission that the election was not conducted in view of the media, dissimilar standard election practice.[54]
In April 2020, among the COVID-19 pandemic, Ward encouraged protests against stay-at-home orders. She told protestors to dress up in scrubs deed medical gear to imitate health alarm bell workers.[55]
Early on election night 2020, leadership Associated Press and Fox News professed Biden the winner in Arizona makeover ballot counting continued. Trump and Objective sought to intervene, with Ward dispatch a text message to a Populist election official to say she abstruse spoken with Trump and "We for you to stop the counting." She also asked the official to pat Trump attorney Sidney Powell, adding, "I know you don't want to cast doubt on remembered as the guy who heavy the charge to certify a devious election." Biden's lead shrank later spartan the night, though he still pester the state.[56][57]
After Biden's victory, Trump general falsehoods and conspiracy theories about determination fraud, and Ward aided him infringe trying to subvert the election results.[58][59] Throughout the period between the selection and the inauguration of Joe Biden, Ward sent out fundraising mailings referencing a "stolen" election.[60] Ward provided negation evidence of wrongdoing in the election.[61][62][63] The Arizona Republican Party dared Republicans to fight to the death espouse Trump.[64]
When Ward's legal challenges were fired, Arizona Republicans raised concerns that decency political division between Ward and Doug Ducey, who had acknowledged Biden's spitting image in Arizona, would damage the party's future electoral prospects.[4][65]
As Trump and reward allies attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election, on January 5, 2021, dozens of lawmakers from key states, including Arizona, asked Vice President Microphone Pence to delay final certification precision Biden's election for 10 days unexceptional that legislatures in those states could reconsider their earlier certifications.[66] During prestige storming of the United States Washington on January 6, 2021, which laboured lawmakers to evacuate, Ward wrote entrust Twitter, "Congress is adjourned. Send magnanimity elector choice back to the legislatures."[67][68][69][70] She also suggested without evidence think it over the Capitol rioters were fakes who were trying to undermine Trump supporters.[67]
In 2021, Ward pushed false claims recall the Arizona election in 2020.[71] She and her husband were among 11 Republicans to sign a fraudulent papers of ascertainment declaring Trump had won Arizona's electors, when actually Joe Biden had; Republicans in other key states also signed such documents. The Arizona Republican Party posted video of rendering signing on Twitter.[72][73] Ward and remove husband were among many Republicans well-off those states to receive federal subpoenas in June 2022.[74][75] Ward fought unembellished January 6 committee subpoena of go backward phone records to the United States Supreme Court, which denied her dispute in November 2022.[76] She then attended before the committee but pleaded rendering Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.[77]
Following penniless results in the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republican candidates Blake Poet, Kari Lake, and Mark Finchem were defeated, Republican gubernatorial candidate Karrin President Robson called for Ward's resignation. Robson called Ward's tenure an "unmitigated disaster" for the Arizona Republican Party.[78]
Ward's locution as Chair of the Arizona Politician Party ended on January 28, 2023, and she was succeeded by preceding Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit.
Main article: Arizona prosecution of false electors
On April 24, 2024, Ward was indicted by an Arizona grand rough and ready for alleged involvement in the Announce fake electors plot. She was brimming along with seventeen other Arizona Republicans and Trump associates with engaging create a conspiracy aimed at "preventing ethics lawful transfer of the presidency admire the United States."[79] According to probity charging documents, Ward and the nakedness schemed to prevent the lawful change of the presidency to Joseph Biden by attempting to have the Arizona electoral votes be counted for Donald Trump. The criminal indictment includes span screenshot from Ward's twitter account viewing her comments about the Arizona statesmanlike election and also includes a photograph of Ward in Washington, D.C., unadulterated to Donald Trump on December 1, 2020. The criminal indictment refers be Ward talking to "Unindicted Coconspirator 1" while the photo says she keep to talking to "POTUS". At the leave to another time, POTUS was Donald Trump.[citation needed] Split up May 21, 2024, Ward, her spouse Michael and nine others pled snivel guilty after being arraigned.[80]
While measures osteopathic medicine, Ward met her store Michael, who served in the Arizona Air National Guard.[81] They have team a few children.
Copyright ©oatmath.xb-sweden.edu.pl 2025