MESA, Arizona — Former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), pitched the Republican ticket to Latino voters in Arizona on Wednesday.
The town hall, hosted by the Conservative Political Action at a church in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, focused on early voting. Vance also held a campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona, earlier in the day.
“My pitch to women, especially Latino women, is I know that you just want common sense. I know you want schools that educate your kids instead of indoctrinate your kids. And I know you want to raise your kids in safe communities,” Vance said at the town hall.
Touching on manufacturing jobs leaving the country, Vance said, “If we want strong communities and strong families, people need good jobs.”
Vance noted how the loss of manufacturing jobs, which he said are the foundation of the economy, affects other industries as well.
“We, of course, have Latinos at every level of our community. There are people who’ve been here for multiple generations. There are people who became American citizens probably a couple of weeks ago. You’ve got people, you know, who are making a lot of money. You got people who are middle class. Got people who are really struggling,” Vance said.
“When you hollow out the manufacturing economy, whether it’s in Arizona or Ohio, you really rip out the foundation of the entire economic livelihood of the community,” he continued.
On the topic of affordability, Vance said he believed the problem was due to two factors: mortgage interest rates being too high and a lack of housing. He said his solution was to lower the cost of energy by drilling for more oil.
“Lower those interest rates, unleash American energy, and we will make the American dream of homeownership affordable again under the leadership of Donald J. Trump,” Vance said.
While Latino voters have historically voted for Democrats, there has been a “Latinos for Trump” push in recent election cycles. Despite Trump’s rhetoric surrounding immigrants, some Latino voters prefer the former president due to his tough stance on the border and immigration. Vance noted their voting patterns but urged them to look at the Republican “coalition.”
“Look at the coalition,” Vance said, touching on those supporting Trump, such as Nikki Haley and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. “We are the big tent party of common sense. The Hispanics that I know that is the quality that most defines Hispanic culture: common sense.”
Early voting began in Arizona on Wednesday, a practice the state’s voters have been using for the past few decades. During the 2020 election, Trump discouraged his base from voting early as he viewed the practice as fraudulent, but in his third presidential campaign Trump has changed his tune and urged his supporters to vote early and by mail.
Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake was also at the event, which was held just ahead of the Arizona Senate debate Wednesday night between herself and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).
“I’m not going to Washington, D.C. to make friends. I have enough friends in Arizona,” Lake said.
She also emphasized the importance of the early vote in Arizona, urging voters to send in their ballots “tomorrow.”
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Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley also made a surprise appearance, telling town hall goers to “get out the vote and protect the ballot.”
All major party nominees visited or are set to visit Arizona in the coming days. Trump is hosting a rally in Prescott on Sunday. Harris is set to hold a campaign event in Phoenix on Friday, and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) was in Chandler and Tucson for campaign events Wednesday to emphasize the importance of early voting.
