3 Arizona Democrats say they are skipping President Trump’s State of the Union address

PHOENIX – Three Arizona Democrats said they will not attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Sen. Ruben Gallego and Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva are slated to join other Democrats who are boycotting Trump’s 7 p.m. (Arizona time) speech at a rally called the People’s State of the Union. (KTAR News 92.3 FM will broadcast Trump’s speech live.)

Valley political strategist Chuck Coughlin, CEO of HighGround Inc., believes Democrats should attend the speech, even though he expects Trump to attack them.

“It’s going to be performative politics. We know that coming from the president, but he is the president,” Coughlin told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Tuesday. “So, you want to show up, you want to listen, you want to pay attention, and … even if he makes fun of you and mocks you if you’re in the audience, that’s part of the story. And how people react to that is part of the story.”

Activist group MoveOn Civic Action and progressive media network MeidasTouch are organizing the alternative event in Washington, D.C., which starts an hour before Trump’s address to Congress and will be livestreamed.

Why are some Democrats boycotting Trump’s State of the Union speech?

“This administration continues to disregard the rule of law and the Constitution while failing to lower costs for American families,” Gallego said in a statement. “I have more productive ways to spend two hours than listening to more lies. I’ll pass.”

Democratic strategist Matt Grodsky told KTAR News’ Arizona’s Evening News on Monday he doesn’t think Trump has a message that the opposing party wants to hear.

“We’re going to hear spin and likely grievances from this administration because that’s what we’ve heard before,” he said. “So, I think that’s the expectation, and I think that’s why you’re seeing some Democrats decide not to go and others are bringing special guests to emphasize the issues that are impacting Arizonans and Americans.”

Ansari left the House chamber in the middle of Trump’s 2025 speech. She is bringing Sonia Almaraz, the partner of a cancer-stricken woman being held at the Eloy Detention Center, to the People’s State of the Union event.

“Last year, I walked out of President Trump’s State of the Union because I refused to normalize the most corrupt and authoritarian administration in American history,” Ansari said in a press release. “This year, I am honored to be joined by Sonia, who has spent more than a year fighting for her loved one, Yari, who was stripped of her residency and imprisoned at the Eloy Detention Center and is suffering from leukemia. Together, we will make sure Americans get an honest account of the state of our union.”

Grijalva opted out of the first State of the Union since she was sworn into the office formerly held by her late father, Raúl Grijalva, last November. She gave her guest ticket to Rep. Ilhan Omar so the Minnesota congresswoman can bring Mubashir Khalif Hussen — a U.S. citizen of Somali descent who was detained by federal immigration agents.

“I will not sit silently while Trump gaslights the American people with lies about how great everything is,” Grijalva said. “If Trump wants to boast about his reckless and unconstitutional immigration enforcement, he should do it in front of the people who these policies have directly harmed.”

Arizona Democrats Kelly, Stanton bringing guests to State of the Union

Sen. Mark Kelly and Rep. Greg Stanton are the only Arizona Democrats planning to attend the 2026 State of the Union address.

Kelly is attending despite attempts by the Trump administration to have him indicted and court-martialed after he appeared in a video telling members of the U.S. military and the intelligence community they have a duty to refuse “illegal orders.”

His guest will be Martin Sepulveda, a former Navy commander and Chandler city councilman.

“Two weeks ago, Donald Trump tried to have me arrested for something I said that he didn’t like, so I’m going to be in that room because he can’t intimidate me or stop me from doing my job — standing up for Arizona and the Constitution,” Kelly said in a statement. “Martin has served our country in uniform, created jobs for Arizonans and stepped up for his community. He has led a life of service. I’m honored to have him as my guest as we keep standing up for the values and freedoms we served to protect.”

Stanton is bringing Greg Fraley, a three-time Trump voter whose Chandler aluminum manufacturing company has been hurt by the president’s tariff policy.

While appearing with Stanton on CNN’s “The Lead” with host Jake Tapper on Monday, Fraley said tariffs drove up the cost of aluminum by 72% over the past year.

“The tariff cost is reflected in general metal pricing. I would say we took a seven-figure hit last year to our bottom line because of the impact the tariffs had. So in the millions,” he said.

Cool. Can I have your ticket? I have a long list of patriots wanting to attend. https://t.co/Ttpnq6AeOB

— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) February 22, 2026

Only one Arizona Republican congressman has announced a guest. Rep. Juan Ciscomani said he is bringing Ben Menges, a rancher from Safford who is currently the president of the Graham County Farm Bureau.

“Ben and his family are deeply rooted in southeastern Arizona,” Ciscomani said in a statement. “Their responsible approach to ranching is a testament to how one of our state’s oldest and time-honored professions can not only survive but thrive in our high technology 21st century economy. I’m honored Ben will be joining me in Washington next week as my guest at the State of the Union.”

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