Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, held a rally in Arizona as part of their tour of electoral battlegrounds, where Harris passed over a prominent Democrat in favor of Walz. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump visited Montana for a rally in support of Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy. The former president hopes to remedy unfinished business from 2018, when he campaigned repeatedly in Big Sky Country in a failed bid to oust incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. Harris and Walz visited a Latino-owned business in Arizona and are set to continue their tour with a visit to Las Vegas.
During her campaign rally in Arizona, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed Democratic and independent voters, who were energized by her speech. Rallygoers praised Harris for her stances on issues such as gun safety and reproductive rights. Harris highlighted her prosecutorial background and experience targeting transnational gangs, drug cartels, and smugglers. She promoted a border security bill negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators earlier in the year, highlighting the differences between her approach and Donald Trump’s stance on border security. Harris also addressed Gaza protesters at the rally, emphasizing the need for a cease-fire deal to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Former Vice President Mike Pence announced that he will not be voting for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential race. Pence cited concerns about Trump’s assertions that he should have overturned the 2020 election results. Pence praised the Trump administration’s accomplishments but criticized the direction the Republican Party has taken under Trump’s leadership. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also weighed in, calling the Harris-Walz candidacy “manufactured” by biased media and criticizing the Democratic enthusiasm surrounding the ticket.
Republicans are seeking Supreme Court intervention in a legal battle over voter registration restrictions in Arizona. The restrictions, enacted following President Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in Arizona, require proof of citizenship for voter registration forms. The move comes after a lower court blocked the requirements, which include rejecting registration forms without proof of citizenship or prohibiting voting in presidential elections without proof of citizenship. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell expressed confidence that the GOP can win a majority in the November elections due to the party’s focus on nominating strong candidates for competitive races.
In western Wisconsin, both Democrats and Republicans are descending with high stakes up and down the ballot. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, visited the state for a campaign stop, highlighting the intense competition for swing voters in swing-state Wisconsin. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who faced attacks from Donald Trump over the 2020 election results, remains focused on winning despite the intraparty criticisms. The state is crucial for Republicans in maintaining majorities at the statehouse. The visit of both Democratic and Republican candidates to Wisconsin underscores the state’s importance in determining the outcome of the presidential race and the balance of power in Congress.
