The day after arsonists threw a firebomb into theirs and the Arizona State Democratic Party Phoenix headquarters, Maricopa County Democratic Party Chairperson Steven Slugocki and Executive Director Maritza Miranda Saenz told attendees at the Virtual Summer 2020 Convention that they would not shrink away from their goal of turning Maricopa County Blue and asked everyone to join them in the political fight ahead by either volunteering time or donating money.
Chairperson Slugocki and Executive Director Maritza Miranda Sanez speak about the Fire Attack on the Maricopa County Democratic Party Offices.
Chairperson Slugocki started the virtual (because of COVID 19) convention and declared:
“We will not let this (the arson bombing of the office) deter us, “and vowed, “like the bird this city is named after we will rise from the ashes.”
Calling the attendees “the heart and soul of the Maricopa County Democratic Party,” he continued and also said “our spirit and resolve will be stronger” and “we’ll get through this stronger together.”
Executive Director Maritza Miranda Saenz told the attendees:
“Do not give the people that terrorized our office the satisfaction of calling it quits… We won’t back down.”
Both Slugocki and Miranda Saenz asked for donations to go towards the rebuilding during the convention.
Close to $30,000 in donations were received within the first five minutes from members of the Legislative Districts (LDs) in the county.
More assistance is still needed so please go to https://maricopadems.org/recoveryfund/ if you can help.
Getting ready for the 2020 Elections
Proclaiming “we will win in November,” Slugocki hailed the high quality of the candidates running for county office this year.
He called attention that for the first time in a long while, Democrats will be fielding candidates for all five Maricopa County Supervisor seats including an African American man (Jevin Hodge) and the first African American woman (Whitney Walker) to run for one of those positions.
He also reminded everyone that the party is fielding its first candidate for the Assessor’s office in close to 30 years.
The chairperson also said that donations, volunteers, and precinct committeepersons (a record 1,512) in the county were above last year’s numbers.
He told the audience that the bulk of the donations will go towards direct voter outreach.
Slugocki, Miranda Saenz, and (by video) a collection of the county candidates, Mayor Kate Gallego, and Senator Kamala Harris all called for volunteers to give as much time as possible to make Maricopa County blue in 2020.
Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, running for reelection, told the audience that:
“We need you to get excited. You are our ground game. We must work together to protect our Democracy.”
County Sheriff Paul Penzone reminded the attendees that they were “the guardians of Democracy.”
County School Superintendent Candidate Jeanne Casteen said this election was “a matter of life and death. This is our chance to turn it (Maricopa County) blue.”
Treasurer Candidate Dan Toporek relayed that “we need your help so every vote in Maricopa County is counted.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, serving as a representative of the Joe Biden Presidential campaign, said:
“Maricopa County is pivotal to Joe Biden’s election. Biden would be a sea change from Trump and help bring people together. Let’s turn AZ Blue.”
Miranda Saenz finished by speaking for everyone when she said:
“Winning November won’t be easy…that’s on all of us with the inequality, protests because of police brutality, and kids locked in cages…. We need to vote and cannot take any elected office for granted…We need your help more than ever to help elect Democrats.”
Moving Forward
The summer convention concluded with the election of Lupe Conchos to the County Party Second Vice Chair and Jade Duran to Secretary.
Maricopa County is considered one of the pivotal counties in the 2020 election and, as Chairperson Slugocki said, one of “the most important battlegrounds in the country.”
Voters will know Joe Biden and Mark Kelly are probably having a good night in Arizona if Democrats hold on to their currently held offices and win new seats (partially or all) in:
- Congressional Districts Four, Five, Six, and Eight.
- LD’s 17, 20, 21, 23, and 28.
- The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
- The Maricopa County Community College Governing Board.
- The Assessors, Attorney, School Superintendent, and Treasurer’s Offices.
For more information on candidates running in Maricopa County, please click on their profiles (if available) on Blog for Arizona or click here.
November 3, 2020, is 100 days away.
It is up to the voters now as to whether they want to help Democrats, as Ms. Miranda Saenz said “lead us out of the dark and into a new age of light.”
Please remember:
- Primary Election Day is on August 4, 2020, and General Election Day is on November 3. 2020. Please see the below graphic for all-important voting dates.
- Please check your voter registration at vote.
- Register/sign up for the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) in Arizona or any state that allows early or absentee balloting and mail. Arizona residents can sign up at vote.
- Arizona residents, mail your General Election ballot by October 28, 2020, for the November 3, 2020 election.
- Check-in with the Secretary of State’s office where you live to verify your mail-in ballot was received, processed, verified, and counted.
- Know the voter ID requirements in your state.
- If you can, support Clean Election Candidates with a small contribution.
- Also, please remember to stay informed on all the candidates and vote for all the offices on the ballot.
- Also, remember to research all the ballot initiatives, sign to get them on the ballot if you support the measure, and vote on them as well.
