As the Arizona election season heats up, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have dispatched their running mates to the state to mobilize early voters. Governor Tim Walz, Harris’s partner on the ticket, and Senator J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, are leading the charge to get out the vote in Arizona.
The state is a crucial battleground in the presidential election, with just over a month to go before Election Day. According to recent polls, the contest between Trump and Harris is neck and neck, with Trump holding a slim lead of just over 1 percentage point in the state. Early voting in Arizona began last week, and voters are flocking to the polls in droves.
Vance, the Ohio senator, spoke at a rally in Tucson on Wednesday, urging supporters to cast their ballots early and by mail. In a departure from Trump’s previous rhetoric, Vance emphasized the importance of early voting, telling the crowd, “The best way to make sure your vote is counted is to make sure it’s counted early.”
Vance’s comments seemed to acknowledge the fact that President Joe Biden won Arizona in 2020 by just 10,457 votes, a narrow margin that has led to years of conspiracy theories and misinformation promoted by top Republicans. The controversy has led to increased security measures at polling places this cycle.
As Vance spoke, Trump took to the phones, making a mass call to Arizona voters, urging them not to wait until Election Day to cast their ballots. The call came as a surprise to many, with some voters receiving a call from Trump himself, despite the fact that the former president has a history of questioning the legitimacy of early voting.
Despite Trump’s reservations, many Republicans are embracing early voting, including Kari Lake, the GOP Senate nominee, who plans to vote early in Scottsdale on Thursday. Lake, who lost the 2022 governor’s election but has refused to concede, citing voting irregularities, is now seen as a key player in the Arizona Republican Party’s get-out-the-vote efforts.
Chuck Coughlin, a longtime Republican consultant in the state, said that he has been advising Trump to avoid criticizing early voting, as it tends to hurt Republican turnout. Historically, Coughlin explained, Republicans have struggled to keep up with Democrats in early voting, a trend that has only worsened in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign is investing heavily in Arizona, with nearly 6,000 volunteers signed up to canvass and phone bank this week alone. Walz kicked off his day in Chandler, participating in a veterans roundtable with Rep. Ruben Gallego and Jim McCain, the son of the late Sen. John McCain. He also visited the Gila River Indian Community, where he met with tribal leaders.
Walz wrapped up his day with a rally in Tucson, reminding voters that they can begin casting their ballots now. “We have 27 days to close the book and not have to hear from Donald Trump again,” he said to a cheering crowd. “When we fight, we win, when we vote, we win.”
Both presidential candidates will continue to focus on Arizona in the coming days, with Harris holding a rally in Phoenix on Thursday and Trump set to appear in Prescott on Sunday. As the battle for Arizona heats up, one thing is clear: every vote will count in this crucial battleground state.
