GLENDALE, Ariz. — Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her first major address on immigration to border-state voters, drawing on her background as a prosecutor during a campaign rally in Arizona. Alongside her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris attracted a crowd of over 15,000 in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, as part of their tour through key battleground states.
Harris, who previously served as California’s attorney general, reminded the audience of her experience targeting transnational gangs, drug cartels, and smugglers during her time as a law enforcement official.
“I prosecuted them in case after case, and I won,” Harris told the crowd. “So I know what I’m talking about.”
She advocated for a border security bill that a bipartisan group of senators had negotiated earlier this year. However, the bill faced opposition from Republican lawmakers, led by former President Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump does not want to fix this problem,” Harris asserted. “Be clear about that: He has no interest or desire to actually fix the problem. He talks a big game about border security, but he does not walk the walk.”
Harris’ focus on immigration, an issue that has posed challenges throughout her vice presidency, is part of a larger strategy to gain support in Sun Belt states, which have become increasingly challenging with Joe Biden at the top of the ticket.
Trump and his allies, who had long criticized Biden for the rise in migrant numbers during his term, are now directing their attacks at Harris. Kari Lake, running against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego for Arizona’s open Senate seat, recently released an ad criticizing Gallego for supporting what she called Biden’s and Harris’ “radical border agenda.” The ad included several clips of Harris laughing.
“It’s very easy for us to shift our focus to her,” said Dave Smith, chairman of Pima County’s Republican Party.
In response, Harris has been working to connect with Arizona’s fast-growing Latino population. She recently released an ad highlighting her own background as the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, emphasizing her rise to high office in American politics.
During the rally, Harris infused her remarks with the theme of “freedom,” particularly when discussing voting rights, gun safety, LGBTQ rights, and access to abortion.
“Arizona, ours is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom,” Harris declared, as Beyoncé’s “Freedom” played while she walked on stage at the Desert Diamond Arena.
Harris’ emphasis on safety and gun restrictions resonated with some attendees. Jen Duran, a 37-year-old mother and independent voter, said, “I have an elementary school daughter who has been going to this school since she was 4, and today we got a notification that there was a lockdown drill. So safety for our kids is really important.”
Phyllis Zeno, a 65-year-old grandmother from Maricopa, expressed her enthusiasm for Harris’ message of unity and policy positions, particularly on affordable health care and reproductive rights. “Her message to me wasn’t just hope, but renewed faith in democracy, that we can do this,” Zeno said.
Arizona, a crucial battleground state, is currently represented by Democrat Mark Kelly in the U.S. Senate. Kelly, who has won two tough races in this politically divided state, was passed over as Harris’ running mate in favor of Walz.
Some voters, like 49-year-old landscaper Gonzalo Leyva, were disappointed by the choice. Leyva, who plans to vote for Trump, said he would have supported a Harris-Kelly ticket. “I prefer Kelly like 100 times,” said Leyva, a lifelong Democrat who became an independent at the start of Trump’s presidency. “I don’t think he’s that extreme like the other guys.”
In Arizona, every vote is expected to be crucial. The state is no stranger to close elections, such as in 2020, when Biden narrowly defeated Trump by fewer than 11,000 votes. Both parties are preparing for another tight race this year.
Harris acknowledged the challenge ahead as she and Walz visited a campaign office in North Phoenix on Friday afternoon, thanking volunteers who were making signs with slogans like “This Mamala is Voting for Kamala” and “Kamala and the Coach.” (Walz is a former high school football coach.)
“As exciting as this is, we cannot lose sight of a really important fact: We are definitely running as the underdog,” Harris told the crowd during the rally.
Despite the challenges, Democrats are optimistic about Harris’ prospects in Arizona, even without Kelly on the ticket. The senator remains a strong advocate for Harris and is already being mentioned for potential Cabinet roles or other prominent positions should Harris ascend to the presidency.
“What this is about is who works harder. That’s it,” Kelly said at the rally. “It is as simple as that.”
Arizona, known for attracting Midwesterners seeking to escape the cold, could still be favorable terrain for Walz, according to several observersre. The governor himself noted that during his opening remarks for Harris, saying: “I’m like a damn snowman, I’m melting here.”
Scott Snyder, who moved to Phoenix three years ago from Detroit, wasn’t too familiar with Kelly’s background or his politics, but said Harris made the right choice with Walz.
“He reminds me a lot of my dad,” said Snyder, an electrician. “You see pictures of him out there coaching high school football. That’s something that resonates with me. You see him out there duck hunting. Same thing. That’s fairly common in Michigan, where I’m from.”
Arizona was reliably Republican until Trump’s combative approach to politics went national.
In 2016, Trump won Arizona, then quickly started feuding with the late Republican Sen. John McCain, a political icon in the state. That sparked a steady exodus of educated, moderate Republicans from the GOP and toward Democrats in top-of-the-ticket contests.
In 2018, Democrats won an open Senate race in the state, foreshadowing Kelly’s and Biden’s wins in 2020. In 2022, Kelly won again, and Democrats swept the top three statewide races for governor, attorney general and secretary of state, defeating Republican candidates who hewed to Trump’s style and his lies about fraud costing him the 2020 presidential election.
Chuck Coughlin, a Republican strategist and former McCain staffer, said the same voters who tipped the state to Democrats in the past few cycles remain lukewarm, at best, on Trump.
“Trump’s not doing anything to embrace that segment of the electorate,” he said.
Meanwhile, there was a fresh reminder of yet another liability for Harris when she was interrupted by Gaza protesters.
Harris said she has been clear that “now is the time to get a cease-fire deal” to end fighting between Israel and Hamas that has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Gaza. She stressed that she and Biden “are working around the clock every day to get that cease-fire deal done and bring the hostages home.”
Harris added, “I respect your voices, but we are here to now talk about this race in 2024.”
She responded differently earlier this week when Gaza protesters interrupted her during a Detroit-area rally. She talked over the protesters.