Local opinion: Arizonans showed up for Vice President Harris: This is a movement

Fifteen thousand people deep, I was elated to see Vice President Harris in Arizona last Friday. She’s been to our state multiple times in the last few months, and last week, Arizonans showed up for her.

Arizonans are rallying behind Vice President Harris and Governor Walz because they will take our country forward.

In the arena, the enthusiasm was electric — and not just for Vice President Harris, but what she is fighting for. In her speech, she emphasized the issues that matter most to Arizona families, like how she will protect reproductive freedom and working-class families while Donald Trump wouldn’t. She reminded us what is at stake — that “now, in over 20 states in our nation, there is a Trump abortion ban. Many, like Arizona, with no exceptions even for rape or incest.”

Standing in the crowd, it was inspiring to hear her not only talk about the issues all Americans care about, but to also take the time to speak directly to what Arizonans believe in.

Some have said it was the largest Democratic rally in Arizona political history, and from where I was sitting, I believe it — despite skeptics online claiming it was AI-generated. No digital creation could replicate the undeniable energy and enthusiasm we witnessed that day. The atmosphere was joyful and contagious. Voters danced, chanted, and cheered along with a soundtrack of ‘bops’ mixed by a local Phoenix DJ.

It wasn’t just the ‘brat’ summer fans — Arizonans of all ages and backgrounds attended. People poured in from all over the state, with folks in the audience sharing drive times and early morning alarms like badges of honor. People took off work to be there.

Thanks to a guest list of a who’s who of Arizona Democratic politics, unity was on full display. After Governor Stephen Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community welcomed everyone to the event and noted the significant support from tribal leaders, three of Arizona’s mayors took the stage to demonstrate the strong bipartisan support for the Harris-Walz ticket, emphasizing Harris’ strong record as a prosecutor and U.S. Senator as exactly the right background for beating convicted felon Donald Trump.

Mark Kelly made sure there were no lingering questions about him as running mate, throwing his support behind the Harris-Walz ticket alongside his wife, hero Gabby Giffords. Senator Kelly hammered home that Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are the best choice for Arizonans and all Americans. Ruben Gallego, a Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, stressed that fellow veteran Tim Walz served our country for decades — and would embody the kind of honorable leadership Arizonans respect.

When she took the stage herself, the energy Arizonans held for Vice President Kamala Harris was overwhelming. Facing more Arizona voters than the 10,000-vote margin that President Biden beat Trump by in 2020, Vice President Harris reminded us what Arizonans have demonstrated election after election since 2018 — “when we fight, we win” and “the power is with the people.”

With a focus on the future and the issues that matter most to Gen-Z voters, Vice President Harris is doing something that not many politicians have figured out: capturing the hearts and minds of the youth. She’s restored hope in all voters that want to make sure that we are not going back — and as the president of Pima County Young Democrats, I see young Arizonans are on board.

This weekend, Arizona showed up for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. And we’re going to show up for them in November.