Anti-Trump Lincoln Project announces AZ leadership team

The conservative anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project announced its Arizona leadership team Thursday, including former Attorney General Grant Woods and three former GOP state legislators.

“We know that Arizona is a keystone state for Trump and that his chances for re-election hinge on his ability to win there,” said Mike Madrid, co-founder of The Lincoln Project. “With the launch of this leadership team, we want to send a clear message to him and his campaign that Arizonans are rejecting him and his failed leadership.”

Woods, who served two terms as the state’s attorney general in the 1990s, was the longtime chief of staff to the late John McCain and has been vocal about his opposition to Trump. In 2016, he endorsed Hillary Clinton over Trump, calling her “one of the most qualified nominees to ever run for president.” By contrast, he said Trump “is the least qualified ever.”

In 2018, Woods formally left the Republican Party and registered as a Democrat.

Woods is joined by former Republican state legislators Susan Gerard, Robin Shaw and Roberta Voss, as well as former Scottsdale Mayor Sam Campana.

Other members of The Lincoln Project’s leadership team include:

• Judith Allen, a former clerk of the Maricopa County Superior Court
• Lori Galvin, a former GOP precinct and state committeewoman
• John Kelly, a lobbyist and one-time legislative director for former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe
• Sim Lazar, an author, small business owner and conervative independent
• Dominica Minore, a Scottsdale attorney
• Mark Moore, a small business owner who worked on McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign
• Nancy Snowden, a small business owner and community activist

Shaw said she regrets falling in line behind Trump four years ago.

“In 2016 I voted for Donald Trump. I know now that it was a grave mistake. The Trump experiment has failed, and Arizona, much like the rest of the country, is suffering because of him,” Shaw said. “I will be voting for Joe Biden for president, and I ask all my Republican friends to do the same for the sake of our Democracy.”

The Lincoln Project plans to work with Republican leaders in Arizona and other battleground states to encourage disaffected GOP voters and right-leaning independents to back Biden.

The super PAC has made waves in recent weeks for its viral ads attacking Trump and those close to him, mocking his leadership, his intelligence and his patriotism. 

In January, the group went after U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, labeling her a “Trump hack” because she voted to acquit Trump in his impeachment trial.

The Arizona Republican Party blasted The Lincoln Project and its founders in a statement after this story was published.

“The heads of the Lincoln Project are grifters and disgruntled consultants, some of whom have ties to Russia, and others who were in financial trouble before they decided to try and make a cheap buck attacking President Trump,” said party spokesman Zachery Henry. “They are clearly out of touch with Republican voters who overwhelmingly support the job the President is doing, and who turned out in record numbers to vote for Senator McSally and our conservative Republican candidates down ballot in Tuesday’s primary.”

***UPDATED: This story was updated to include comments from the Arizona Republican Party.