Friday, 15 November 2024

Republican Mayor Endorses Kamala Harris

100 Percent Fed Up
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John Giles, the Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona, has endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

“Arizona Republicans like me can emulate Sen. John McCain’s motto of ‘Country First’ and beat back Trump and his threat to democracy,” Giles wrote in an op-ed for The Arizona Republic.

“Our party used to stand for the belief that every Arizonan, no matter their background or circumstances, should have the freedom, opportunity and security to live out their American Dream,” Giles wrote.

“But since Donald Trump refused to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, Republicans have yet to course correct. The Republican Party with Trump at its helm continues down the path of political extremism, away from focusing on our fundamental freedoms,” he continued.

Giles writes in The Arizona Republic:

I believe my party has a moral and ethical responsibility to restore faith in our democratic institutions. In the spirit of the late Sen. John McCain’s motto, “Country First,” I call on other Arizona Republicans to join me in choosing country over party this election and to vote against Donald Trump.

In Arizona, we have faced the brunt of misinformation, election denialism and an erosion of trust in our justice system.

The Grand Canyon State is ground zero in the fight against repeated false claims to disrupt our electoral process — from fake presidential electors attempting to undermine Arizona’s election, to a sham “audit” by Arizona Senate Republicans that was spurred by conspiracy theories.

Significant reforms to immigration and border policies that would have addressed the crisis at our southern border were blocked by Trump because he didn’t want the problem solved. He wanted to exploit it for personal political gain.

Since 2014, I have had the honor of being mayor of Mesa, the nation’s 36th-largest city and one of the most conservative. Under Trump, American cities didn’t get the support they deserved. Infrastructure week was made into a joke.

But under the Biden-Harris administration, Mesa has seen historic federal funding for the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, along with investments to make sure our streets and public transit systems benefit from modern technology.

From The Hill:

Giles argued that President Biden and Harris have delivered for Arizona, pointing to infrastructure investments and new jobs, while Trump turned away from immigration reforms. He also argued that Harris represents a return to “decency” in politics.

Giles recalled the career of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), arguing that Arizona needs more like-minded leaders who can work across the aisle.

“And it’s that same high caliber of character and leadership I see in Vice President Harris,” he wrote.

He similarly shouted out Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who is reported to be among those under consideration to be Harris’s vice presidential nominee.

“That’s why I’m standing with her. Kamala Harris is the competent, just and fair leader our country deserves,” Giles said. “This year too much is at stake to vote Republican at the top of the ticket.”

Trump led Biden in Arizona polling, though recent polls have shown Harris neck and neck with the former president in the state. Arizona Democrats hope Harris at the top of the ticket can improve their chances of winning the state’s Senate race in November, where Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is hoping to succeed the departing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).


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