Arizona’s GOP governor to attend Biden inauguration

Doug Ducey, Arizona’s Republican governor, announced Thursday that he plans to attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week. 

“In America, we believe in the peaceful transition of power. It doesn’t matter who you supported in the election — once the election is over, we put country before party. Never has it been more important than right now to observe these traditions for the whole world to see,” Ducey said in a statement. “I was honored to represent Arizona at the inauguration of President Trump in 2017, and I am honored to represent our state at the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies next week.”

Ducey acknowledged that he and Biden have policy differences, but said he believes the president-elect to be a “good man” who “wants to serve his country” and that he looks forward to working with the incoming administration.

Ducey, the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association, was a key supporter of President Trump during his first term. However, he withstood a barrage of attacks from the president following the November election, when Ducey certified Arizona’s election results affirming Biden as the winner of the state.

Trump for two months insisted falsely that he won the presidential election, only to first acknowledge that a new administration would be taking over just last week after a violent mob of his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol in furtherance of his efforts to protest the results. 

Biden defeated Trump by a narrow margin of about 10,500 votes in Arizona, making him the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since former President Clinton in 1996. Trump’s campaign mounted unsuccessful legal challenges to the results in Arizona.

Ducey will be one of several current or former officials to attend the Jan. 20 inauguration of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday, including former Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush. Vice President Pence is also expected to attend the inauguration, though Trump has said he will not be there.

The inauguration is expect to have a smaller-than-usual footprint due to the coronavirus pandemic. Local officials have also discouraged people from traveling to participate in the events due to the threats of violence following the riot at the Capitol last week.