Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz at a campaign event in Tucson, Ariz., on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz and many high-ranking Tucson Democrats held a rally at Palo Verde High School on the first day of early voting in Arizona.
About 1,500 people waited for most of the afternoon to hear Walz speak about reproductive rights, the border, and other key parts of the Harris-Walz platform.
With abortion expected to be a defining issue in Arizona in November, Walz hit particularly hard on Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance’s stance on reproductive rights during the Vice Presidential debate.
“When they mean freedom, they mean that they should be free to invade your exam room, to invade your school library, to invade your bedroom, and have the government be just small enough to be in every damn part of your life that they shouldn’t be,” he said.
Tucson’s Mayor Regina Romero spoke before Walz and told the crowd of supporters to vote “no” on every single ballot proposition except Prop 139 regarding abortion rights.
If passed, Prop 139 would guarantee the right to an abortion in Arizona’s constitution. Walz said a Harris Administration would attempt to restore that right nationwide.
“When Vice President Harris and I talk about freedom, it’s you, not politicians, and we guarantee you to the women in this country, you and your doctor will make the decisions when we restore Roe,” he said.
Walz also focused on job opportunities brought to Arizona under the current Biden-Harris administration.
“This state creates the future. $123 billion of private sector investment creating new clean energy jobs, solar and battery manufacturing,” he said. “Donald Trump asked us to be afraid of the future. When have Arizonans ever been afraid of the future? Never, never. You don't fear the future. You build the future.”
Democratic Congressional candidate Kristen Engel, Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, and Mayor Romero also emphasized the importance of voting and asked every attendee to make sure they asked five people how they were casting a ballot.
“I don’t think voting is the most important thing you can do. Voting is the least that you can do,” Cázares-Kelly said.
Cázares-Kelly also acknowledged the frustration of progressives who don’t see “the perfect option” in the Harris-Walz ticket.
“The presidency of Harris-Walz means the door is open for these conversations. On the other side of that, is literally a lack of safety for somebody who looks like me, and somebody who talks about white supremacy the way that I do,” she said.
Walz was scheduled to speak at 3:30, but was delayed by almost 2 hours. He mentioned issues with his plane in his speech and thanked attendees for waiting.
In his speech less than 100 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, Walz also defended the “tough but fair” bipartisan border deal that failed to pass the Senate earlier this year. He said Vice President Harris wants to continue funding more border agents and ways to intercept fentanyl.
“We all know we want a secure border. She's taken action to cut crossings in half, and now they're lower than when Donald Trump was in office. She's doubled the amount of fentanyl that's been seized on our streets,” he said.
Despite some supporters waiting at least five hours, the energy was high in the high school gymnasium with loud music and frequent dance circles.
Harris supporters also wore a wide variety of shirts expressing either their love for Harris or their disdain for Donald Trump, with phrases like “White Dudes for Harris,” and the Tide detergent logo reading “Kamala Harris, Removes Stubborn Orange Stains.”
Christine Magnan wore a shirt that said “Veterans for Harris-Walz,” and said she is a member of Common Defense, a progressive veteran’s group.
“I showed up today because I think Donald Trump is a disgusting human being,” she said. “People need to remember that he’s the one that locked up children and separated them from their families.”
Melba Ribas said she thinks the 2024 election will be very important, and she came to support Walz because he’s likable.
“He’s so exciting,” she said. “I’m just happy to be here.”
Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are also scheduled to speak in Arizona before the end of the week as the race heats up in the battleground state.
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