Arizona GOP mayor invited to DNC and Harris campaign rally

A Republican mayor in Arizona who bucked his party to endorse Vice President Harris was invited to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month, he told The Arizona Republic on Monday.

John Giles, mayor of Mesa, didn’t commit to attending but said he “did appreciate the invitation.” He also said he will attend a Harris rally in Phoenix on Friday.

Giles is among a rising number of elected and formerly elected Republicans backing Harris’s campaign for president. In his endorsement last week, he said the Republican Party had “lost track” under former President Trump.

“Our party used to stand for the belief that every Arizonan, no matter their background or circumstances, should have the freedom, opportunity and security to live out their American Dream,” he wrote.

“But since Donald Trump refused to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, Republicans have yet to course correct,” Giles continued. “The Republican Party with Trump at its helm continues down the path of political extremism, away from focusing on our fundamental freedoms.”

Giles further warned last week that he believes Trump won’t leave office if he is elected to a second term.

The Harris campaign’s “Republicans for Harris” launch last week included 25 elected and formerly elected GOP officials backing the vice president. Giles is a co-chair of the group.

It is headlined by former Trump administration aides Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye, as well as former Reps. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.).

Other endorsements came from former GOP Govs. Bill Weld (Mass.), Christine Todd Whitman (N.J.) and Jim Edgar (Ill.), the campaign announced Sunday. It also highlighted that former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) endorsed Harris after backing President Biden.

Trump led Biden in Arizona polling, though recent polls have shown Harris neck and neck with the former president in the state. Arizona Democrats hope having Harris at the top of the ticket can improve their chances of winning the state’s Senate race in November, where Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is hoping to succeed the departing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I).