CHANDLER, Ariz.—Arizona Republicans and Democrats staged last-minute door-knocking campaigns hoping to sway undecided voters in the midterm election now less than 24 hours away.
On Nov. 7, the Arizona Democratic Party held multiple canvas events to mobilize volunteers to get out the vote.
Last week, former President Barack Obama was in Phoenix to stump for Democratic candidate for Arizona governor Katie Hobbs against Republican frontrunner Kari Lake.
And on Nov. 5, “Scandal” star Kerry Washington was in Phoenix to support Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly against Republican Trump-supported challenger Blake Masters.
“This is the funeral day of the old way of doing things,” said conservative activist Tyler Boyer at an Arizona Freedom Fest rally sponsored by Turning Point USA in Chandler, Ariz., on Nov. 7.
The rally’s goal was to knock on 3,000 doors in the final hours before the election, requiring “face-to-face politicking,” Boyer said.
Describing Chandler as electoral “ground zero,” Boyer said the election’s outcome in Maricopa County would serve as a bellwether for the rest of the country.
He said Democrats are “literally shaking in their boots right now” based on early ballot returns.
“Everything depends on the next 24 hours. Can you get enthusiastic? That’s what today is all about,” he said.
Arizona state Sen. J.D. Mesnard, one of several guest speakers, said the Democratic Party is “no longer the party of tolerance.”
“If you disagree with them, they are there to shut you down, crush dissent—to cancel you,” he said.
“They used to be a party that talked about women’s rights. And yet now they want to erase women as a category.”
Conservative activist Lindsey Graham said America is in a spiritual and cultural war.
“Some people either have no idea about the cultural and spiritual war we are fighting or don’t care. I think blissful ignorance has never hurt our society as it has now,” Graham said.
Kelly Cooper, a candidate for U.S. representative in Arizona’s District 4, said “the metamorphosis” of the Republican Party into a force for “America First” conservative values is “almost complete.”
“They spent eight years trying to bury this movement America First. They didn’t realize they were planting seeds—and the blooms are coming up.
“Tomorrow, the flower will come into full growth. You’re going to have full representation across the board in Arizona.”
In Maricopa County, which includes Chandler, Democrats currently lead Republicans in early mail-in ballot voting, indicating Republicans will vote in mass on election day due to widespread mistrust of mail-in voting.
The county has set up 223 voting centers and deployed thousands of election workers to handle the large volume.
On Nov. 7, Maricopa County election officials scheduled a press conference to address anticipated “false election narratives.”
They will also update election security measures against potential voter intimidation at the polls and ballot boxes.
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