Republicans are surging ahead in Arizona’s Maricopa County, a critical must-win area in the 2024 election, with initial Election Day turnout showing a significant advantage over Democrats. According to Newsmax correspondent Alex Salvi, early ballot counts reveal that Republicans are outpacing Democrats by more than two to one, giving former President Donald Trump a sizable lead in this pivotal county.
As of 11:40 a.m. EST, 23,919 Republican voters have already cast ballots in Maricopa County, accounting for 42.5% of the day’s total turnout so far. In contrast, only 11,324 Democrats have voted, representing slightly over 20% of all ballots cast. This turnout gap in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, is viewed as an indicator of voter momentum for the GOP. The county previously drew national attention in the contentious 2022 recount that elevated Kari Lake’s political profile.
Arizona, long considered a swing state, has seen shifts over recent election cycles. Trump narrowly won Arizona in 2016 by just over 4%, but it flipped to Biden in 2020. Now, however, Arizona and other Sun Belt states are showing signs of swinging back toward the GOP, with Nevada also trending Republican. This shift has led Vice President Kamala Harris to concentrate efforts in other battlegrounds, like Pennsylvania, where Democrats are fighting to hold key electoral ground.
Maricopa County is often seen as a microcosm of Arizona’s evolving political landscape and the nation’s immigration debate. Located along the U.S.-Mexico border, Arizona has faced significant pressure due to a surge in immigration, both from asylum seekers and migrants entering illegally. Texas, with its ongoing migrant bussing program, has sent thousands to states like Arizona, which has strained resources in an already stretched shelter system. In May, a statewide poll found that only 13% of Arizonans believed President Biden would prioritize immigration reform if re-elected.
Kari Lake, the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, has made immigration and voter dissatisfaction central to her campaign platform. Lake’s strategy appears to be gaining traction, with recent polls showing her running even with her opponent, Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego. The same poll also showed Trump extending his lead over Vice President Harris in Arizona, with a 49.7% to 41.9% advantage.
Despite low Democratic turnout, Harris’s battleground state director, Dan Kanninen, insists that Arizona remains a priority. The Harris campaign is pursuing a seven-state strategy targeting close races in key swing states, including Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. In a recent interview, Kanninen highlighted the importance of each battleground state, explaining that the campaign’s approach is built to win competitive races by focusing on strong ground operations. “One of the seven has as good a chance as any other to be the tipping-point state,” he stated, emphasizing the campaign’s commitment to voter outreach on the ground.
With initial Election Day results signaling strong Republican turnout, Arizona is emerging as a crucial battleground that could play a decisive role in the 2024 presidential election. As GOP momentum builds in Maricopa County, both parties are gearing up for what may be a close and pivotal race in the Sun Belt, a region that could determine the next president.