Arizona’s Republican mayor, who endorsed Vice President Harris over his party’s objections, told The Arizona Republic on Monday that he has been invited to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month.
Mesa Mayor John Giles said he would not attend but “appreciated the invitation.” He also said he would attend Harris’s rally in Phoenix on Friday.
Giles is one of several elected and former Republicans who have supported Harris’s presidential campaign, saying in his endorsement last week that the party has “lost direction” under former President Trump.
“Our party has stood for the belief that all Arizonans, regardless of background or circumstances, should have the freedom, opportunity, and security to realize the American dream,” he wrote.
“But since Donald Trump refused to accept the results of the 2020 election, the Republican Party has not yet moved in the right direction,” Giles continued. “With Trump at the helm, the Republican Party has continued down a path of political extremism, rather than focusing on our basic freedoms.”
Giles warned last week that he would not step down from office even if Trump is elected for a second term.
Last week, the Harris campaign launched “Republicans for Harris,” a group of 25 elected and former GOP officials who support the vice president. Giles is its co-chair.
Leading the group are former Trump administration aides Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troy, and former Reps. Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut), Joe Walsh (R-Illinois), Susan Molinari (R-New York) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois).
Other endorsements came from former GOP governors Bill Weld (Massachusetts), Christine Todd Whitman (New Jersey) and Jim Edgar (Illinois), the campaign announced Sunday. It also highlighted former Georgia lieutenant governor Jeff Duncan (R) who endorsed Harris after backing President Biden.
Trump has been ahead of Biden in Arizona polls, but recent polls show Harris in a tight race with the former president in the state. Arizona Democrats are counting on Harris’s lead to boost their chances of winning the state Senate race in November. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is hoping to replace outgoing Sen. Kirsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).
