Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Head to Arizona for Dynamic Campaign Rally

By Staff Reporter |

Vice President Kamala Harris, along with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is set to campaign in Arizona this Friday. Specifics of their visit are still under wraps.

Their visit follows a recent appearance by Trump’s vice-presidential hopeful, Ohio Senator JD Vance, in Glendale, Arizona.

Harris and Walz are expected in Phoenix, though precise details regarding the venue and time have not been disclosed yet.

This visit comes shortly after Harris selected Walz over Senator Mark Kelly as her running mate. Kelly announced his support for Walz on Tuesday, acknowledging he did not anticipate being the pick.

“I never expected to find myself in this position,” stated Senator Kelly.

Vice President @KamalaHarris and Governor @Tim_Walz are going to move us forward. They’re already building a campaign to unite our country — and @GabbyGiffords and I are ready to do everything we can to help them win.

— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) August 6, 2024

In contrast, former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey criticized Vice President Harris and the Biden administration over their handling of the border issue. Ducey served under Presidents Obama, Trump, and now Biden.

Ducey claimed Harris has not adequately addressed illegal immigration since being tasked with it early in Biden’s term, earning her the title “border czar.”

“She’s never been to Arizona’s border to this date. And that is an issue she has failed on,” said Ducey. “This was all avoidable with attention to the border, and this is something Kamala Harris will have to answer for in this presidential campaign.”

However, not all Republican leaders hold such a negative view. Mesa’s Republican Mayor John Giles endorsed Harris in a column last month, highlighting his opposition to Trump’s response to the 2020 election results and praising Biden administration policies.

Giles pointed to infrastructure funding and semiconductor development as benefits from the current administration. He also argued against pro-life and pro-gun policies, labeling them as “far-right.”

“Trump poses a serious threat to our nation. We can’t have a felon representing us on the national stage, let alone one who would threaten to abandon NATO and ruin our standing abroad,” Giles wrote. “Kamala Harris is the competent, just, and fair leader our country deserves.”

Giles’ recurring endorsements of Democratic candidates prompted Arizona GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda to dismiss his latest support for Harris as unsurprising and unworthy of further attention.

“The Mayor has been endorsing Democrats for several election cycles now. This isn’t news, and it certainly doesn’t warrant any of our attention,” stated Swoboda. “At the AZGOP, we are focused on expanding support and addressing issues that matter most to Arizonans and the American people.”

Giles has actively supported other Democrats, recently contributing $100 to Lorena Austin, the state’s first nonbinary and gender nonconforming elected official. He also joined the “Republicans for Harris” campaign advisory committee as co-chair, alongside former state representative Robin Shaw.

Republican Mayor of Mesa, AZ John Giles:

“I think the time has come for us as AZ Republicans to admit the obvious…which is that our party’s nominee is not qualified for office and that we need to vote for the adult in the room, and that is Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/ZV7F2KTGIE

— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) August 5, 2024

Shaw had previously campaigned against Trump in 2020 under the “Republicans for Biden” movement, which notably included former Senator Jeff Flake.

The initiative is part of a broader campaign to rally Republican support for Harris, drawing on the success of a similar effort for Biden four years ago.

HAPPENING NOW: Arizona Republicans endorse Vice President Harris and slam Trump for his attacks on democracy. GOP leaders will form a new advisory committee to help the Harris for Arizona campaign reach Republicans who will reject MAGA from now until November pic.twitter.com/UKySKxC0LG

— Delaney Corcoran (@del_corcoran) August 5, 2024

Campaign communications for Harris in Arizona are being managed by Delaney Corcoran, who has significant experience with the Biden campaign. Corcoran previously served as communications director for Massachusetts’ Secretary of Education before taking on her current role.