Reject the ‘extreme’ GOP and ‘MAGA weirdos’: AZ Democrats make their case to win

Democrats in Arizona have been crystal clear about their goal in 2024: follow up on the successes of 2022, when they won all of the top statewide offices, and wrest control of the legislature in the Grand Canyon State away from Republicans for the first time in nearly 60 years. “It was another banner night for MAGA weirdos up and down the ballot, which can only mean good things for Democrats,” said Marilyn Rodriguez, a progressive lobbyist and campaign veteran. “It was probably as good a primary as Republicans could have hoped for,” said Barrett Marson, a Republican campaign advisor. “But that district now is probably unwinnable for Democrats.” And that, said GOP campaign consultant and pollster Paul Bentz, makes it much more difficult for Democrats to win a Senate majority because there are just two viable seats they can pick up, and they must win both to take control of the Senate. “I’m not sure that’s the win Republicans think it is.” Marcela Taracena, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the local arm of the national DLCC, said there’s no daylight between Leach and Wadsack on the policies they support — policies that aren’t popular in the district and that Democratic nominee John McClean opposes.