In a poll ran June 5th, 92.5% of the 253 respondents replied Yes, to the question “Should Merissa Hamilton immediately resign as AZGOP Member-at-Large in light of being censured for brokering a felony bribe for Jeff Dewit and violating AZGOP Bylaws publicly soliciting donations for Justin Heap while treating other Republican candidates unfairly during primary?”
It is unclear if Merissa or any of her organizations are receiving financial benefit from Heap or the Heap campaign. It is will known that Merissa and EZAZ have received financial and non financial benefits to support other candidates in the past. Merissa has continued to act as Heap’s henchman or campaign social media manager with mudslinging untrue personal attacks against Don Hiatt. At the same time she defends Justin Heap’s insults to Trump and MAGA as “out of context” when clearly the full post is shown and they are not out of context. This is a clear violation of the AZGOP bylaws as she is not treating “all Republican candidates fairly”. Membership in the AZGOP includes elected State Committeemen, elected officers such as AZGOP MAL which Merissa is, and County Chairs and 1st Vice Chairs. Those messages can be seen below:
Article IV – OFFICERS C. Method of Electing
2. The Republican Party of Arizona shall treat all Republican candidates fairly during the primary irrespective of whether the party has aided in the recruitment of such candidate or any other factor. In races without a primary election, the Republican Party of Arizona shall continue to treat all candidates fairly through the general. Notwithstanding, this paragraph does not apply to either judicial retention elections or in presidential preference elections, or potential presidential preference elections, where an incumbent Republican president is seeking re-election.
It is important to note that Precinct Committeemen are not members of the AZGOP (which has also been illegally reformed into an LLC which should be reversed) and not subject to these requirements. Were Hamilton to resign as Member at Large of the AZGOP and as a State Committeemen, she would be free to endorse, fundraise, and run Heap’s campaign without issue.