Former President Trump held a campaign rally in Bullhead City on Wednesday, aimed at galvanizing supporters and endorsing Republican candidates in advance of the upcoming midterm elections. The event was part of a larger campaign tour that has also included stops in Alaska and Montana, with future visits planned for North Carolina and Kansas.
Several Arizona Republican candidates appeared on stage to speak to the crowd. Gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs delivered an effusive speech, promising to be a governor who would “get things done.” Biggs outlined his intentions to make Arizona more affordable and to “bring back the American Dream.” His running mate, Sine Kerr, also addressed the attendees. Secretary of State candidate Alexander Kolodin was another speaker, speaking energetically against his opponent, Adrian Fontes, the incumbent Democratic secretary of state. Kolodin stated his goal to restore “transparency and secure election results,” suggesting these are currently lacking.
Despite the rally's focus on supporting Republican candidates, some notable absences were observed among Arizona’s GOP hopefuls. Juan Ciscomani and Jay Feely, both candidates in the state's most competitive congressional races, did not attend the Bullhead City event. Additionally, Trump did not mention either Ciscomani or Feely during his remarks. Attorney general candidate Warren Petersen was also not mentioned by the former president.
Requests for comment from Feely's campaign were not returned, though social media posts indicated he was at another event on the day of the rally. Ciscomani's team stated that he was unable to attend because he was occupied with events in his district “all day that day.” The lack of mention from Trump for Ciscomani and Feely was seen as a “glaring omission,” especially as Trump himself indicated his purpose was to stump for congressional candidates in competitive races, which these two represent.
During his address, Trump's speech was lengthy, a characteristic noted by observers. While the Arizona candidates primarily focused on their own platforms, the rally was described as “very much the Trump show,” with attendees largely coming to see the former president. Trump encouraged people to vote “as if he's on the ballot,” a sentiment he has expressed previously.
He also directed criticism at Arizona's incumbent Governor, Katie Hobbs. In a notable juxtaposition, Trump claimed Arizona's economy was “booming,” implying his influence, yet simultaneously described Arizona as a “hellish place to live” due to Hobbs' leadership. This presented a duality for voters to consider whether their lives were improving because of Trump or deteriorating under Hobbs.
The Bullhead City rally also brought into focus a broader trend among Arizona Republican candidates concerning their public image in the general election cycle. Reports have indicated that many candidates in Arizona have updated their campaign websites, reducing or removing mentions and images of Trump or organizations like Turning Point USA. Some have also softened their language to appear more moderate, a tactic often employed in swing states like Arizona to appeal to independent voters after securing the party's base in the primary.
Specific examples illustrate these changes. Alexander Kolodin, who spoke at the rally, removed numerous references to Trump from his website but did not respond to inquiries about the changes. Andy Biggs' campaign logo, which previously featured “Trump Endorsed” across the top, no longer includes that phrase, now displaying his running mate Kerr's name instead. His campaign explained the change by stating it “just didn't fit, it was too clunky.” Jay Feely's website, for instance, once featured a prominent pop-up with Trump's face and an “Trump Endorsed” message upon clicking a specific section; this pop-up is no longer present. These modifications, while perhaps subtle, reflect a strategic shift by candidates as they navigate the general election landscape. Trump, however, did not acknowledge any of these website changes during the rally.
