In a crucial push to increase Latino turnout, Arizona Democrats leaned on the legacy of labor and civil rights as Joe Kennedy III and Cesar L. Chavez rallied union workers in Phoenix.
Representing the Kennedy and Chavez family legacies, both leaders encouraged attendees to support Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate hopeful Ruben Gallego, underscoring the impact Arizona voters could have in a tight swing-state contest between Harris and Donald Trump.
Joe Kennedy III, a former U.S. Congressman and current envoy to Northern Ireland, framed the election as a pivotal decision about unity and worker rights.
Contrasting Trump’s history with working-class Americans, he criticized Trump’s alleged exploitation of labor in his business dealings. Chavez, echoing his grandfather’s activist spirit, painted Trump as a threat to democracy, referencing Trump’s characterization of opponents as the enemy within.
Arizona has seen a record-breaking influx of campaign visits from both the Harris and Trump camps, with high-profile supporters like Kennedy and Chavez underscoring the election’s stakes in this critical battleground state. Arizona AFL-CIO’s Fred Yamashita highlighted how key issues—abortion rights, gun policies, and immigration—remain central for the working-class voters the Democrats are targeting.
Kennedy and Chavez focused heavily on immigration, with Kennedy condemning Trump’s family separation policy as an affront to human dignity, a sentiment that resonated deeply with the crowd.
As the election nears, Arizona’s role in potentially tipping the balance in this tight race has brought intense engagement from political figures on both sides.