Beto O'Rourke looks past early primary states with Arizona rally
PHOENIX (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke took his calls for tough gun laws and inclusive immigration policies to Arizona on Sunday, looking well beyond the early primary states as he campaigned in a conservative but changing region.
Looking to break through a crowded field of Democrats, O’Rourke laid out a progressive vision of a country that grants citizenship to young immigrants known as “Dreamers” and treats all immigrants with respect.
“We’re going to rewrite this country’s immigration laws in our own image,” O’Rourke told an enthusiastic crowd of supporters a hip collection of bars and restaurants made of shipping containers in downtown Phoenix.
Immigration is a potent issue for Arizona Democrats, particularly among Latino activists who were drawn to politics by their opposition to former Phoenix-area sheriff Joe Arpaio, who’s immigration crackdowns led to a racial profiling verdict against his office. Arpaio’s criminal contempt of court conviction for violating that verdict was erased by a 2017 pardon from President Donald Trump.
Read more: https://ktar.com/story/2777758/beto-orourke-looks-past-early-primary-states-with-arizona-rally/