Gov. Doug Ducey paints Donald Trump as man to change DC in first public support

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey had yet to appear at an event alongside Republican presidential nominee, despite calling for party unity earlier this summer.

That changed Wednesday.

Speaking before the nominee’s immigration speech in Phoenix, Ducey painted Trump as the man who would remove the Washington, D.C. bureaucracy should he win the general election in November.

“No matter where you are from, regardless of your race or background, let’s stand together to dismantle D.C. bureaucracy,” he told a large crowd at the Phoenix Convention Center.

It was a strong speech from Ducey. He opened by saying he was backing Trump because he wants to see a conservative judge replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.

He also advocated for tougher national and border security standards.

Ducey echoed his July call for unity at the close of his speech and urged followers to support Trump.

“Tonight is about unity and coming together in the march for victory this November,” he yelled, which was followed by loud applause.

At the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ducey warned Arizona Republican delegates that the party would have to unify to avoid his state falling into Democratic hands come November.

“Let’s clearly state our purpose this morning: It is to put a Republican back in the White House and a Republican vice president back in Washington, D.C. and those Republicans are Donald Trump and Mike Pence,” he said at the time.

Follow @carternacke