Harris and Walz Descend on Arizona: The Crucial Role of a VP Runner-Up

PHOENIX—In Arizona, every vote is crucial. Vice President Kamala Harris, along with her new running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will hold a rally in Arizona on Friday as part of their tour of electoral battlegrounds. This follows her arrival at Sky Harbor Airport on Thursday, despite delays due to storms.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and advocate for gun control, had been a top contender for Harris’ running mate. He has a strong record of winning tough races in the politically divided state. However, Harris’s choice of Walz has left some voters like Gonzalo Leyva, a 49-year-old landscaper from Phoenix, disappointed. Leyva expressed he would have supported a Harris-Kelly ticket but plans to vote for former President Donald Trump instead.

The state is known for its tight races, such as in the 2020 presidential election when Joe Biden narrowly defeated Trump by fewer than 11,000 votes. Both parties anticipate another close contest this year. Republican strategist Constantine Querard predicts a prolonged and hard-fought campaign.

Despite bypassing Kelly, Harris retains solid support from state Democrats. Senator Kelly is expected to be a strong advocate for her and is already being considered for possible Cabinet positions should Harris become president. Democratic strategist Stacy Pearson reports ongoing enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz ticket, similar to the excitement seen during Obama’s first campaign in 2008.

Arizona, traditionally a Republican stronghold, has been shifting. Trump’s combative style and feuds with figures like the late Sen. John McCain have driven many moderate Republicans toward the Democratic Party. This shift was reflected in Democrats’ wins in recent Senate and top statewide races in Arizona.

Trump and his allies are focusing on border security, criticizing Biden’s and Harris’s handling of migrant issues. Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake has released ads attacking Harris’s border policies, while Harris aims to connect with the state’s growing Latino population through media highlighting her immigrant background.

Harris’s candidacy potentially shifts the focus away from traditionally decisive states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin back to Sun Belt states like Arizona. Although Biden is popular among younger voters, his age has been a concern among some in Arizona’s retirement communities, potentially giving Harris an edge.

Reporters Riccardi from Denver and Walt Berry in Phoenix contributed to this article.