Arizona Democratic Leaders Throw Full Support Behind Kamala Harris for President

Arizona Democrats are consolidating their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the top candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Governor Katie Hobbs articulated this endorsement, proclaiming Harris as the leader who can unite Americans and tackle key issues such as lowering costs and restoring reproductive freedom.

The momentum for Harris gained further traction following President Joe Biden’s announcement of his decision to withdraw from the reelection race. His withdrawal came after intense scrutiny from within his party, highlighting concerns over his debate performances and public gaffes, which many feared would be detrimental to the Democratic candidates in the upcoming election.

This endorsement is particularly significant in Arizona, a crucial swing state that Biden narrowly won by less than 11,000 votes in 2020. Arizona’s Democratic Party views Harris as the strongest candidate to counter former President Donald Trump in the forthcoming elections. The party declared its intention to rally behind Harris, dubbing her as representative of a “new generation of leadership.”

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly expressed his firm support for Harris via social media, naming her the ideal candidate to face Trump and advance the country’s future. Kelly has also been mentioned as a potential running mate for Harris. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego lauded Harris for her dedication to abortion rights, emphasizing that her proactive stance differentiates her in the ongoing battle for women’s health rights, particularly in states like Arizona with restrictive abortion laws.

On the congressional front, U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva called for Democratic unity around Harris, citing the necessity to counter the right-wing Project 2025 agenda, which aims to implement radical conservative policies under a potential second Trump administration. This includes restricting abortion rights and dismantling public education.

However, Arizona Republicans have been critical of Harris, describing her as a mere extension of Biden’s policies and questioning Biden’s health. State Senator Wendy Rogers and the Arizona Republican Party have echoed these sentiments, pushing back against Harris’s potential candidacy and reasserting their support for Trump and his agenda.

AZGOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda dismissed Harris’s relevance, asserting that Trump’s win is likely irrespective of the Democratic candidate. Republican candidates in Arizona have targeted Harris on issues such as border security and economic policies, arguing that her tenure as vice president aligns too closely with Biden’s controversial policies.

Vertical contestations have been evident, with GOP candidates like Kari Lake framing Harris’s nomination as a continuation of “bad policies,” while encouraging voters to consider the Republican alternatives. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani criticized his Democratic challenger for backing Harris, labeling her the “open border czar” in a pointed social media comment.

Despite the critical reception from Republicans, Harris is progressing towards securing the Democratic nomination. She has garnered substantial delegate support, although she still needs to secure a total of 1,968 delegates for her nomination to be confirmed at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The campaign’s formal filing in Arizona for the Democratic nominee is set for August 25.