As early voting starts, presidential and VP candidates flocking to Arizona this week
Oct 8, 2024, 5:00 AM | Updated: 10:18 am

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are returning to Arizona the same week early voting starts in the state. (Getty Images Photos)
(Getty Images Photos)
PHOENIX – As voters start receiving their early ballots, Arizona will be buzzing with visits from national candidates over the week.
All four of the nominees in the race for the White House are set to campaign across the Grand Canyon State in the coming days.
As a battleground state, Arizona has been a popular spot for visits from national candidates, but the campaigns are kicking it up a notch with early voting for the Nov. 5 general election starting Wednesday.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming Arizona itineraries for Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, as well as Harris’ husband and President Joe Biden’s wife.
Which Democrats are visiting Arizona this week?
Up first on the Democratic side is a Tuesday visit to the Phoenix area from Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff. The second gentleman is set to appear at a Republicans for Harris organizing event in Phoenix at 4:25 p.m., a campaign reception at 6 p.m. in Paradise Valley and a get-out-the-vote rally in Phoenix at 7:40 p.m.
Walz, meanwhile, is flying into Phoenix on Tuesday night ahead of multiple appearances on Wednesday.
The Democratic vice presidential nominee will start in Chandler at an 11 a.m. event for veterans and military families, head to the Gila River Indian Community for a 12:30 p.m. event with tribal leaders and then travel south for a 3:30 p.m. rally in Tucson. The locations and other details have not been announced.
The main event, as far as Democrats are concerned, comes Thursday evening, when Harris is set to hold a campaign rally in Phoenix.
Details about what will be her third trip to the Grand Canyon State since moving to the top of the ticket have not been released. The campaign originally announced that Harris would return to Arizona on Friday, but the appearance was moved up a day.
First lady Jill Biden will also be in Arizona this week. The current president’s wife will campaign for the Harris/Walz ticket in Yuma on Friday and Phoenix on Saturday as she kicks off five-day sprint through five battleground states.
Which national Republicans will visit the Grand Canyon State?
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, is a latecomer to the Arizona parade. His campaign waited until Tuesday to announce that he will hold a rally in Prescott Valley at 2 p.m. Sunday.
It was previously announced that his running mate will be busy with two events in the state on Wednesday.
Vance will start with a noon rally at Tucson Speedway. Anybody interested in attending can sign up for free tickets online.
The GOP vice presidential nominee will then head north to appear at a town hall focusing on the Hispanic community in Mesa at 3 p.m.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., had been scheduled to attend six Turning Point Action “SuperChase” events in metro Phoenix on the first day of early voting, but he canceled the trip to remain with his family in Florida as Hurricane Milton bears down on that state.
The Turning Point Action events are part the new GOP get-out-the-vote strategy that encourages Republican voters to cast their ballots early.
It’s a reversal after Donald Trump Sr. and his associates spent years sowing doubts about early voting and urging voters to wait until Election Day to cast their ballots.
CLARIFICATION: The Harris campaign originally announced she would visit Arizona on Friday, but the date was moved to Thursday.