State lawmaker Joseph Chaplik enters race for Arizona’s Congressional District 1

Scottsdale Republican state Rep. Joseph Chaplik announced he is entering the race for Arizona’s Congressional District 1 to replace U.S. Rep. David Schwiekert and will go head-to-head with chair of the state GOP, Gina Swoboda, in the upcoming primary.

On Monday, Chaplik, a member of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus announced he would be running for the seat touting the endorsements of a number of big names in the MAGA movement, however, notably missing is President Donald Trump, who has already endorsed Swoboda. 

Schwiekert announced earlier this year that he would not run for reelection in Congressional District 1 and is instead seeking his party’s nomination to face off against Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs next year. CD1 is the state’s wealthiest district, covering large areas of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills. 

Chaplik has been a lawmaker at the Arizona state legislature since 2019 and is one of ten people who have filed statements of interest with the Arizona Secretary of State to run for the congressional seat in the August primary. Chaplik and Swoboda are the most recognizable names that have announced runs so far. 

“As a businessman and a conservative, I know what it takes to balance a budget, to fight for families and small businesses, and to uphold the freedoms that make Arizona and America great,” Chaplik said in a written statement accompanying the announcement. “I look forward to continuing Trump’s America-First policy fight in Congress. Our freedom and liberties are at stake.” 

Among Chaplik’s endorsements is former Republican state Rep. Austin Smith who pleaded guilty last month to charges that he personally forged more than 100 signatures on his petitions for reelection. Chaplik, who chaired the House Ethics Committee at the time Smith was accused of forgery, dropped a complaint that Democratic lawmakers brought against Smith, a former member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus..

Chaplik has also amplified conspiracy theories online and in committee. 

CD1 leans Republican but is among the state’s most competitive districts and has for years been a target for national Democrats who hoped to flip the seat. Last cycle, Schweikert got 52% of votes while his Democratic opponent, former state lawmaker Amish Shah won 48%. Shah is running for his party’s nomination for the seat again next year. 

Both parties are making the district a top priority as Republicans are seeking to maintain their six seat majority over Democrats who are looking to weaponize  President Trump’s low approval ratings and the economy against their GOP rivals. 

However, Republicans will have their own infighting to contend with as Swoboda’s candidacy has been met with vitriol from some of the party’s more far-right members. 

Swoboda said that Arizona’s school voucher program should have some guardrails after it came under fire for luxury purchases from parents, like diamond rings and smartphones. Those comments alienated supporters of the voucher system, including Turning Point USA and the Arizona Freedom Caucus.