Political campaigning in Arizona heats up as Trump holds a rally for Republicans, Democrats meet with voters

Campaigning for political power in Arizona is heating up as the midterm elections are now less than a month away, and candidates from both sides spent the weekend trying to win over voters.

Former President Donald Trump made an appearance in Mesa on Sunday, Oct. 9 campaigning for Republican candidates, known as the "Trump ticket."

Over in Paradise Valley on the same day, the Democratic candidate for governor Katie Hobbs held an event at a park with the support of several Republicans.

The ‘Trump ticket’

At the Mesa event, candidate for Secretary of State Mark Finchem, candidate for Arizona Attorney General, Abraham Hamadeh, U.S. Senate hopeful Blake Masters and Kari Lake, running for Arizona Governor, fired up the crowd before Trump was front and center.

Current Arizona House of Representatives member, Finchem, was the first candidate of the major races to take the stage. He touched on the topic of crime, but focused more on election integrity, a main responsibility of the job he’s hoping to secure.

"I will hold all accountable to do one thing," he said. "Just follow the law."

Hamadeh was next up, doubling down on issues at the border, the influx of fentanyl, and the cartels.

"I want to fight the criminals. I want to fight the drug cartels who are pouring in the fentanyl into our communities. I want to fight the violent thugs who have destroyed our streets," he said.

Now to Masters. He brought up the debate with current U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and claims he will be tougher on the problems at the border and with fentanyl as well. "They’ve surrendered the border to the Mexican drug cartels, they gave up. What’s the correct amount of illegal immigration? Zero," he said.

At a point in Masters' speech, he points out his children in the crowd, saying that 30 years from now, he wants them to be living in a country they still recognize. "Is that too much to ask?" he said, claiming it might not be possible if his opponent is re-elected.

Lake takes the stage after Masters. She says it feels as though her opponent, Hobbs, is on "vacation" and says to open her office and do the work Arizonans elected her to do.

She goes on to remark on the fentanyl crisis. "I don't like knowing that Arizona is the fentanyl pipeline for the United States," Lake said. "I want to be known as the Grand Canyon State, not the fentanyl state."

Lake also touched on a few of her goals, if elected, for a dual-track education plan, increasing safe communities, a change in sex education curriculum in schools, and enforcement against drug cartels.

"Safe, secure borders, is that right? We want to get the homeless off the streets, get them help, and make our cities and parks and streets safe again," Lake said.

Trump was the final person to take the stage and touted Lake as Arizona's best choice for governor.

"Arizona could not ask for a governor with more energy, passion, toughness, brilliance, brilliance and determination to secure your borders and stop violent crime," Trump remarked about Lake.

He says Arizona is second to California in regard to the cost of gas.

"We want opportunity back for your state. Your state is taking a hit. Your gasoline prices are second right now, think of it, second to California. You’re going way over $5," Trump said.
 

Hobbs in Paradise Valley

Katie Hobbs, the current Secretary of State hosted an event at Barry Goldwater Park in Paradise Valley and was joined by several Republicans campaigning for her.

She emphasized putting country before political parties and says we have much more in common than our political differences.

"We all want what's best for our state. We want a thriving economy, we want good schools for our kids. We want free and fair elections," she said. "We want someone with a steady hand who can lead our state through its toughest challenges.

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Read more about the midterm elections here.