Sergio Arellano elected as new Arizona Republican Party chairman

First Latino to lead state GOP
The Arizona Republican Party just elected Sergio Arellano to serve as the new GOP chairman.
Published: Jan. 25, 2026 at 9:17 PM MST|Updated: Jan. 26, 2026 at 5:05 PM MST

PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — The Arizona Republican Party just elected Sergio Arellano to serve as the new GOP chairman.

Arellano was voted in as the party’s new chairman Saturday in a 761-621 vote in Prescott.

He is the first Latino to serve as chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. Arellano succeeds Gina Swoboda, who stepped down to run for Congress.

“I want to begin by thanking my fellow candidates for Chairman,” Arellano said in a statement. “Each of them pledged their time, energy, and personal resources in service to this Party and this country.”

Arellano said he was elected to help end internal party division, reenergize donors and volunteers and win elections.

“Our Party stands at a crossroads,” he said. “We are facing Democrats who seek to control our children and our schools, weaken our borders, undermine law enforcement, and grow government at the expense of families and small businesses.”

According to his campaign website, Arellano was born and raised in Tucson. He enlisted in the United States Army at 17 years old and served for over a decade as an infantryman and HR specialist.

Other newly elected officers in the party include:

  • First Vice Chair Shiry Sapir
  • Second Vice Chair Kevin Maldonado
  • Third Vice Chair Nickie Kelly
  • Secretary Sherra Kissee
  • Sergeant-at-Arms Carrie Hughes
  • Assistant Secretary Shirley Dye
  • Assistant Treasurer Young Mayberry
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Frank Antenori
  • CD7 Member-at-Large Kathy Noriega

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