Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz is set to visit Window Rock, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation on Saturday, Oct. 26, as part of ongoing effort by the Harris-Walz campaign to reach out to Native voters.
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The visit follows a series of events by Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Walz in the battleground state of Arizona, where polls show a close race between Harris and former Pres. Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.
Walz is set to speak at an early voting event as a wave of new radio and television campaign ads are airing on tribal radio and TV stations in the area.
“Arizona Democrats have deep relationships on the ground in the Navajo Nation building up organizing and outreach infrastructure, and earning support from Native American voters for over 15 years,” according to a statement released by the Harris for President campaign.
“This cycle, the Arizona Harris-Walz campaign is taking no vote for granted …”
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More than 70 tribal leaders recently endorsed the Harris-Walz campaign, with about one-fourth from Arizona, according to campaign officials. Among the tribes endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket are the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Gila River Indian Community, Kaibab Navajo Nation, Paiute Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the Tohono O’odham Nation, officials said.
Walz met with tribal leaders at the Gila River Indian Community on Oct. 9, as early voting in person began in Arizona. Walz then moved on to Tucson where he and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance held dueling campaign events.
Harris held a rally in Phoenix the following day, on Oct. 10, and Trump held a rally on Oct. 12 in Prescott Valley, north of Phoenix. Harris also met recently with Native youth.
Trump is set to hold a rally on Thursday, Oct. 24, on the Arizona State University campus. He also has made stops in Tucson and held a rally in Glendale.
The Harris-Walz campaign has set up a national organizing program, Native Americans for Harris-Walz, to mobilize Native voters. The campaign also has set up a tribal organizing team with 29 staffers in tribal communities, including the Navajo Nation, White Mountain Apache, Gila River and Tohono O’odham, campaign officials said.
The statement released by the campaign said Walz’s visit reflects the Harris-Walz campaign’s commitment to tribal sovereignty and support for Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes as it works to “lower costs for their families, invest in tribal entrepreneurs and businesses, and make affordable health care more accessible.”
Walz, as governor of Minnesota, has worked closely with tribes there and ran for office with now-Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Band of Ojibwe, who would advance to become the nation’s first female Native governor if Harris and Walz win the Nov. 5 election.
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