Jeff DeWit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theArizona Republican Party | |
| In office January 28, 2023 – January 24, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kelli Ward |
| Succeeded by | Jill Norgaard (acting) |
| Chief Financial Officer ofNASA | |
| In office April 3, 2018 – February 14, 2020 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Melanie Saunders (acting) |
| 43rdTreasurer of Arizona | |
| In office January 5, 2015 – April 3, 2018 | |
| Governor | Doug Ducey |
| Preceded by | Doug Ducey |
| Succeeded by | Mark Swenson(Acting) Eileen Klein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1972-12-21)December 21, 1972 (age 52) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Marina DeWit |
| Education | University of Southern California (BS) |
Jeffrey James DeWit[1] (born December 21, 1972) is an American businessman and politician who served as the chair of theArizona Republican Party from January 2023 to January 2024. A member of theRepublican Party, DeWit became theState Treasurer of Arizona in 2015, succeedingDoug Ducey. DeWit said in 2016 that he did not plan to seek re-election in2018. In 2017, President Trump nominated him to be chief financial officer of NASA.[2] His nomination as chief financial officer of NASA was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2018. He resigned from NASA in February 2020 and joinedTrump's 2020 campaign later that year.
DeWit received his degree in business administration and finance from theUniversity of Southern California, and began his career in 1992 atSmith Barney Shearson. In 1999, DeWit started a stock trading company called ECHOtrade, serving as its CEO for over 14 years.[3]
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In politics, DeWit has served as a Precinct Committeeman, State Committeeman, and was also appointed by the Chairman of theArizona Republican Party to serve on the party's Redistricting Committee.[3]
In 2014, he sought the office ofTreasurer for the state of Arizona, a position being vacated byDoug Ducey, who instead ran for Governor of Arizona after serving for one term. DeWit won the Republican primary in August, defeating former Tempe MayorHugh Hallman and former state party ChairmanRandy Pullen by a large margin. DeWit was unopposed in the general election, and was therefore the presumptive Treasurer of the State of Arizona.[4]
DeWit also served as the chair ofDonald Trump's2016 presidential campaign in Arizona.[5] He said in 2016 that he had no plans to seek reelection at the end of his term as State Treasurer as he disliked the "favor-factory" mentality of established politicians, whose ranks he had no desire to join.[6]
DeWit was nominated by President Trump to become Chief Financial Officer of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration on December 1, 2017. His nomination was returned unconfirmed to the President by theU.S. Senate on January 3, 2018, underStanding Rules of the United States Senate, Rule XXXI, paragraph 6.[7] The nomination was resubmitted to the Senate on January 8, 2018. He was confirmed byvoice vote on March 14, 2018.[8] He took office on April 3, 2018.[9] DeWit resigned on February 13, 2020.[10][11]
On June 30, 2020, it was reported that DeWit was named the chief operating officer of theDonald Trump 2020 presidential campaign.[12][13][14][15]
On January 28, 2023, DeWit was elected chair of theArizona Republican Party.[16]
On January 23, 2024, an audio recording of a conversation between DeWit andKari Lake, the party's nominee for Arizona Governor in2022 and party candidate for the U.S. Senate in2024, was leaked.[17] In the recording, DeWit is heard offering Lake job opportunities, suggesting she take a break from politics.[17] After Lake refuses, DeWit asks her, "Is there a number at which..." To which Lake responds, "I can be bought? No." DeWit continues to ask for a "counter-offer".[17]
After the release of the audio recordings, Lake insisted DeWit should resign from his position in the Arizona Republican Party. DeWit complied, claiming Lake's team threatened to release another incriminating audio recording if he didn't.[17] Lake's advisers Caroline Wren and Garrett Ventry said onTwitter, "No one from the Kari Lake campaign threatened or blackmailed DeWit."[17]
DeWit resigned on January 24, 2024.[17]
DeWit resides inPeoria, Arizona[18] with his wife, Marina and his three daughters.[3] As a part of his election campaign, his family appeared in a music video parody ofFrozen.[19]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff DeWit | 215,892 | 44.90 | |
| Republican | Hugh Hallman | 155,775 | 32.40 | |
| Republican | Randy Pullen | 108,106 | 22.49 | |
| Write-in | 1,011 | 0.21 | ||
| Total votes | 480,784 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff DeWit | 1,063,472 | 99.12 | |
| Write-in | 9,461 | 0.88 | ||
| Total votes | 1,072,933 | 100.00 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Treasurer of Arizona 2015–2018 | Succeeded by Mark Swenson Acting |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theArizona Republican Party 2023–2024 | Succeeded by Jill Norgaard Acting |