Mayor Gallego pushing for Phoenix to host Democratic presidential debate

PHOENIX — Mayor Kate Gallego has been pushing to get a Democratic presidential debate scheduled in Phoenix.

Gallego said Monday she’s had positive conversations with the Democratic National Committee and been in touch with Chairman Tom Perez.

“They told us they’ve not made any final decisions but that they’re looking very hard at Arizona,” she said.

The next two debates are set for Nov. 20 in Atlanta and Dec. 19 in Los Angeles. The DNC has plans for six debates in 2020, the last in April, at sites yet to be determined.

.@MayorGallego working with the @DNC, hoping to land a Democratic presidential debate in PHX. She says they’ve already sent crews to @CityofPhoenixAZ looking at venues. With AZ voting after Super Tuesday, we would likely see the finalists for the presidential nominee. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/WJXPOrlFwR

— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) October 28, 2019

Arizona’s presidential preference election, its version of a primary, is scheduled for March 17, about midway through the nominating process and two weeks after Super Tuesday.

Because of that, Arizona, if chosen, would likely host a later debate featuring a narrowed field of Democratic candidates.

Gallego said the DNC previously scouted Arizona locations, many of which were in Phoenix, for the June debate that ended up being held in Miami.

“The path to the presidency goes right through Maricopa County, so I think all of the national candidates should be paying attention to Phoenix and our issues,” she said.

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