The Arizona Republican Party is working to scrap its 2020 presidential preference election as part of an effort to avoid headaches for President Donald Trump at the GOP national convention.

Trump faces no competitive threat here or elsewhere, but the move reduces any potential hassle from rivals on the floor at the 2020 convention in Charlotte. Politico reported Friday that three other GOP parties — in South Carolina, Nevada, and Kansas — are on the path to cancel their primaries and caucuses.

The effort in Arizona has been afoot since at least April, when state party chair Kelli Ward began circulating a GOP executive committee resolution to GOP state lawmakers to support opting out of the state's presidential preference election.

That resolution, obtained in May by The Arizona Republic, acknowledges that the party has the option of not holding a presidential preference election.

Both major parties have opted out of Arizona's presidential preference elections to benefit their incumbent candidates.

Democrats in 1996 and 2012, for example, opted out of Arizona's presidential preference election with then-incumbents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Republicans in 2004 opted not to hold a presidential preference election when George W. Bush was vying for a second term.

"Arizona Republicans are fired up to re-elect President Trump to a second term and will continue to work together to keep America — and Arizona — great," Ward said in a statement issued Friday.

Officials with the state Republican party had repeatedly declined until Friday to comment on those efforts to The Republic.

The state Republican Party must notify the Arizona secretary of state in writing by Sept. 16 of its decision to opt out. Ward and the state party's executive committee are scheduled to discuss this issue Sept. 14 at its closed-door meeting.

The state's 15 counties estimated earlier this year it would cost about $10 million to conduct the state's presidential preference election. That estimate was revised to $7 million if the GOP did not participate. The Republican-controlled Legislature appropriated less than $4.5 million to that election, a secretary of state spokeswoman said.

Zachery Henry, spokesman for the state party, said opting out of the election would allow the party to invest its resources toward voter education and building out its political infrastructure.

"Republicans have made it very clear that they're pleased with the president's performance in office and what he's been able to do on behalf of the American people," Henry said. "... I think Arizona Republicans are going to be excited to go and vote for President Trump in November."

Have news to share about Arizona's U.S. senators or national politics? Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Contact her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712.

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