Arizona
Arizona Republicans channel McCain with support for Kamala Harris
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris | Agence France-Presse
MESA, United States — At a traffic-choked intersection in stifling desert heat, a group of Arizona Republicans are campaigning for their preferred presidential candidate — Democrat Kamala Harris.
The political temperature in this battleground state is rising as the United States hurtles towards a bitterly contested election on November 5 in which some life-long Republicans say they cannot support Donald Trump.
“I’m just doing my patriotic duty, defending my country against someone who actively sought to take down the Constitution,” pilates instructor Amy Wudel tells AFP.
READ: Harris vows migration crackdown, reform as she finally visits border
Drivers in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix, honk their horns as they pass the intersection, in what appears to be a show of support for the nearly two-dozen people standing there with “Arizona Republicans for Harris” signs.
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But there are also shouted insults and the occasional middle finger.
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Trump lost to Joe Biden in this western state in 2020 by a wafer-thin 10,500 votes.
But many in the local Republican Party still refuse to believe it, claiming — without any evidence — that the ballot was rigged.
READ: Stephen Curry: Kamala Harris election victory will unite US
For some stalwarts, it is baffling that their party still professes blind obedience to a man who encouraged his supporters to overrun the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“That makes him completely unfit for office,” said Wudel.
As a Mormon, the 47-year-old has always struggled with the billionaire’s lifestyle — he’s been married three times, allegedly had a fling with a porn star and then lied about the payments he made to cover it up.
For Wudel, all that stands in rather stark contrast to Harris.
“She’s a prosecutor who respects the rule of law, while he is a convicted felon,” she said.
Orphans of John McCain
Like Wudel, other demonstrators say they no longer recognize the party they joined, which has been swamped by Trump’s “Make America Great Again” brand.
Many define themselves as “fiscally conservative and socially moderate,” invoking the memory of John McCain, the 2008 White House nominee who died of cancer six years ago.
Trump’s narrow loss in the state in 2020 — the first time a Republican has not carried Arizona since 1996 — was, at least partly, because these orphaned Republicans refused to fall in line with their party’s nominee.
Some feel so strongly that they are prepared to take a national stand against Trump.
Mesa Mayor John Giles spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, when Harris formally accepted her party’s nomination.
McCain, for whom Giles worked as a lawyer when he was younger, “was well known for saying ‘Country over party’,” he told AFP.
That credo would not allow election denialism, the scuppering of a bipartisan immigration bill, or opposition to military support for Ukraine, he said — all articles of faith for MAGA Republicans.
“I need to remind particularly Republicans in Arizona to follow the example of Senator McCain and to not have displaced loyalty to a party that has lost its way,” he said.
It’s a message that had resonated with several old-school Republicans.
Among those who have thrown their weight behind Harris are Dick Cheney, George W. Bush’s former vice president, his daughter Liz, one of the few Republicans to have participated in the congressional commission investigating January 6, and McCain’s son Jimmy.
‘Politically homeless’
In and around Phoenix, dozens of giant “Republicans for Harris” billboards line the highways.
The effort to keep Trump out of the White House was less obvious in 2020, when a handful of posters professed support for Biden.
This year, organizers say they have already raised $120,000 from small donors in Arizona, twice as much as they did in the last cycle.
In the neat front yard of his suburban home, Daniel Schweiker is one of those who has erected a pro-Harris sign.
At 75, this retiree is nostalgic for the old Republicans — the Bush family or even disgraced former president Richard Nixon — and thinks of himself as “politically homeless.”
Polls are tight in Arizona — fivethirtyeight.com says Trump has the edge by 1.5 percentage points in an average of recent surveys.
But Schweiker wants to believe that the former president will end up being penalized because of the way his campaign has catered to the extremes of the party.
He cites Kari Lake, who is underwater in her run for the US Senate after aggressively disputing her clear defeat in the race for the governor’s mansion two years ago.
Schweiker thinks Arizonans don’t reward such uncompromising positions.
“The MAGA Republicans can win a primary election because they’re the only ones who vote in the primaries,” he said.
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“But to win a general election, you have to move to the middle, and those people don’t know how to do it.”
The 2026 NFL Draft is over, but the 2026 NFL schedule is here!
While Arizona Cardinals fans should be excited about Jeremiyah Love and all the new additions, the release of the regular season schedule turns a mere daydream of fall into a more concrete 17-game reality check.
The Cardinals finished last season 3-14, missed the playoffs, and now have a new path towards the postseason.
Shop Cardinals 2026 tickets
As a Cardinals fan, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to commune with your fellow fans and see State Farm Stadium in all its glory.
The first game of the NFL season is less than three months away, be the first to secure your tickets to see the Arizona Cardinals play this season.
Arizona Cardinals 2026 NFL schedule, tickets
- Week 1: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET
- Week 2: Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks – Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:25 p.m. ET
- Week 3: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Sunday, Sept. 27 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 4: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. ET
- Week 5: Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions – Sunday, Oct. 11 at 4:25 p.m. ET
- Week 6: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams – Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 7: Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos – Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 8: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET
- Week 9: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks – Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4:25 p.m. ET
- Week 10: Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams – Sunday, Nov. 15 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs – Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. ET
- Week 12: Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders – Sunday, Nov. 29 at 4:25 p.m. ET
- Week 13: Arizona Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets – Sunday, Dec. 20 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 16: Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints – Sunday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. ET
- Week 17: Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders – Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027 at 4:05 p.m. ET
- Week 18: Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers – TBD
Shop Cardinals 2026 tickets
Cardinals home opponents, tickets
The Cardinals will host the following teams at State Farm Stadium this season:
- L.A. Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders
- N.Y. Jets
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
Cardinals away opponents, tickets
The Cardinals will hit the road and take on the following teams during the regular season:
- L.A. Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Dallas Cowboys
- Kansas City Chiefs
- L.A. Chargers
- New Orleans Saints
- N.Y. Giants
Shop Cardinals 2026 tickets
Arizona Cardinals NFL Draft pick
With the team’s first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cardinals selected Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall. Watch Jeremiyah Love play in person this year by buying your tickets now .
Shop NFL Draft Jerseys
Arizona’s natural wonders: See the state’s most iconic sites
Arizona’s diverse geography has created some incredible features. Take a look at the best, including Sedona’s red rocks and the Grand Canyon, of course.
The Republic
Despite its desert reputation, Arizona has several exciting roller coaster attractions that make it a fun destination for thrill seekers. One of the best-known rides is the Desert Storm coaster at Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix.
Arizona is also home to two popular mountain coasters located in the cooler mountain regions of the state.
Mountain coasters are gravity-powered rides built along hillsides or mountains. Riders sit in individual carts attached to a track and control their own speed using hand brakes. Unlike traditional roller coasters, mountain coasters often wind through forests and natural scenery, creating a mix of adventure ride and scenic experiences.
And Arizona is lucky enough to have two mountain coasters. Here’s how to visit.
What roller coaster is in the mountains in Arizona?
There are two mountain coasters in Arizona: the Canyon Coaster Adventure Park in Williams and the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster at Sunrise ski resort.
Canyon Coaster Adventure Park in Williams AZ
Canyon Coaster Adventure Park features the Canyon Coaster, which spans 1 mile with a scenic mountain backdrop. It has a peak height of 35 feet and is integrated into the natural curves of the landscape. The 13-acre park also offers tubing across 400 feet of track in summer and snow-covered slopes in winter, facilitated by two conveyor lifts. There’s also a restaurant and bar.
Where: 700 E. Route 66, Williams, Arizona.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7p.m. Fridays-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday year-round.
Admission: The Canyon Coaster costs $20 per person per ride. Riders must be over 4 feet, 5 inches tall. Children who are at least 3 years old and 38-54 inches tall ride for $10 with a driver who is 18 or older. Visit the website for other attractions and pricing.
Details: 928-707-7729, canyoncoasteradventurepark.com.
Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster at Sunrise ski resort
Spanning over half a mile with 3,287 feet of track, the coaster’s carts can reach up to 25 mph. Hand brakes let you choose a mellow or zippy ride. Sunrise Park has skiing and other snow activities in winter, plus mountain biking, scenic chair lift rides and more in summer. Dining options include a restaurant and pub.
Where: Sunrise Park Resort, 200 State Route 273, on the Fort Apache Reservation near Greer.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, closed Monday-Thursday. Open every day starting June 2026.
Admission: $19 per ride or buy two rides for $38 and get a third ride free. Tickets are available in person. See the Sunrise Park website for other seasonal activities and prices.
Details: 928-735-7669, sunrise.ski/apache-coaster.
Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.
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Last night was the seventh consecutive game where the Diamondbacks were held to six hits or fewer. That ties a franchise record, last done in April 2022, and previously in August 2011. The team’s .477 OPS over that time is actually lower than either streak, though due to the efforts of the pitching staff, Arizona are actually 3-4 during the current run. They went 2-5 in 2022, and 1-6 in 2011. There hasn’t been a longer streak in the majors since the Angels went nine in April last year. In the National League, the Pirates went eight in June 2023. And in case you are wondering, the last team to reach a double-digit streak of games with 6 or fewer hits each time? The 1968 Astros reached 11, the year before the mound was lowered.
Let’s hope the D-backs render that moot and the offense comes to life a bit. The three runs added in garbage time last night, because one of the Rangers’ relievers couldn’t find the strike-zone, certainly padded Arizona’s resume. But they were more because of walks than hits. I’ve no doubt the team will hit better. They have batted .152 over the past week. It’s the second lowest in franchise history for a seven-game span. The only worse was April 7-15, 2022 when Arizona hit a remarkable .135, going 28-for-208 in that span. They actually scored three more runs than the current streak, mostly because they had twice as many home-runs (6-3).
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