First Lady and educator Dr. Jill Biden headlined a Get Out the Vote Rally at the Arizona Education Association (AEA) Headquarters in Phoenix earlier today (November 5, 2022). She called on educators to work to turn out the vote this Tuesday to ensure that the Democratic agenda of moving the country forward and lifting people up continues in Arizona and across the country.
"This election is a choice between two drastically different visions for our country," Dr. Biden said, urging the many activists in attendance "to encourage others to vote -- no matter how busy they are."
Local and Statewide Candidates: Education is on the ballot
Before the First Lady appeared, many of Arizona's local and statewide candidates spoke about what was at stake heading into Tuesday's election.
Newly elected A.E.A. President Marisol Garcia simply framed the election as “Education is on the ballot.”
Paradise Valley School Board Candidate Keri Baker expressed the hope that teachers could finally “get a legislature that is pro-education and pro-educator…We can bring Arizona from the bottom of the education list to the top…Together we can do this.”
Mesa School Board Candidate Jacob Martinez declared that “it is always educators that get things done” and credited public school teachers for helping him and his family succeed. He also reminded the audience that “School Boards are our new battleground” for protecting Democracy and inclusive values.
One speaker, a young Dreamer, spoke on the merits of passing Proposition 308, the initiative that would allow students like her to pay in-state tuition, saying “We have it in our hands…join us to ensure that reality for our dreamers can be different.”
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Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman. From AEA Twitter.[/caption]Superintendent Kathy Hoffman: Leave No Voter Behind.
Speaking to chants of “Kathy, Kathy,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman was the first statewide nominee to speak, reminding the audience that she was the first educator elected to State Superintendent in more than 20 years.
She also emphasized the theme of going door to door and making phone calls to turn out the vote, saying, “It’s all about the power of the people knocking on doors, making those phone calls. Every minute between now and Tuesday counts. Do not leave one voter behind.”
She then touted her accomplishments including:
- Funding the addition of hundreds of new counselors and social workers.
- $20 million from Donors Choose, an organization to fund teacher supplies
- A new Teacher Residency Program.
- Expanded internet for rural schools.
The Superintendent also mentioned some of her second-term goals, saying, “Our work is not done yet. As a new mom, I know our work is not finished” and said she would fight for full-day kindergarten and increased teacher pay if elected to a second term.
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From AEA Twitter.[/caption]Attorney General Nominee Kris Mayes brings it in.
Attorney General Nominee Kris Mayes was one of the two best speakers at this morning's event, giving a version of her stump speech, customized to the education activists attending the event. Among her remarks were:
“You know what I see when I look at you? I see victory. We are going to win this election because we nominated awesome people, and they nominated crazy people. We are going to win this election because our ideas move Arizona forward. Their ideas move Arizona backward, and we’re not going backward, are we? We’re going forward -- forward. American Democracy runs through the state of Arizona."
"Your being here today, your being here today to help knock on doors, is an act of patriotism. There are few things more important than nurturing and teaching our future generations. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you, to all the educators out there who have been forced to do so much with so little for too long. I believe in you," she said.
"This is an opportunity to create positive change for you, our educators, all of our school support staff, and for all Arizona students. Every single child in our state deserves the best and brightest future. Arizona deserves fully funded schools now,and I will fight for that as your next Attorney General…
"When I am your Attorney General, I will have your back. We can make positive change. We can fully fund Arizona’s schools… Let’s talk to folks about voting. Vote to uplift our hard-earned educators. To vote for progress. To vote for our bodily autonomy and destiny. To vote for the future of every child in our great state. Let’s get out there and vote for a brighter future for the state of Arizona.”
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Arizona Secretary of State Nominee Adrian Fontes. From AEA Twitter.[/caption]Adrian Fontes Honors Educators.
Secretary of State Nominee Adrian Fontes, continuing the theme of honoring educators for their hard work and activism, spoke next, relaying:
“In the Marine Corps, we have this little saying: you adapt, you improvise, and you overcome. And if there’s anything that we have seen over the last several years, it is the extreme difficulties we’ve experienced in our classrooms. The hardships that so many of our young families and their children have experienced, you the public educators of Arizona have adapted. You improvised, and you overcame. So, kudos to every single one of you. You are the basis for so much of what we take for granted. You are the bedrock, and you should be congratulated for that hard work and hard effort."
"This is not about the candidates up here. It’s about you and the work you do and having a state government that supports you, that recognizes you, that sees you, that understands you, that wants you to help out our future and build a better tomorrow…It is that much deeper and an honor to say I was a product of Arizona’s public education, and we are going to come through together and win…”
AZ House Rep. Ruben Gallego says Democrats had the right plans, message, and candidates to win.
Arizona House Representative Ruben Gallego also thanked teachers for all they do for children, offering:
“There aren’t many of us who wake up at 6:00 a.m., go to school, take care of other people’s kids, go home, take care of our own families, and then go hit the doors…thank you so much for doing that. And when you hit those doors, people are going to answer, because people at the core, will always trust their teachers…We should value that every step of the way by making sure they get the wages and support they deserve…
He then presented the case that Democrats were leading and winning in Arizona because Democrats and women are voting in record numbers over Republicans in the early voting phase of the election.
The former Marine and possible 2024 Senate Candidate then discussed the Democrat's chances for victory on Tuesday, stating:
“Why haven’t Republicans been able to close the sale…Because we have the better message. They talk about inflation. We’ve actually done something about inflation…Where’s the Republican inflation plan? Nothing. We have the messengers. We have great candidates that are running for office. They have, it seems like somebody broke out of an asylum and gave these people titles to run for something."
"When people are talking about their concerns about inflation, these guys are talking about Donald Trump’s ability to win an election in 2020. That’s why they can’t close. So, we have the message, and you guys are the messengers. We are winning right now. Don’t let them put us down because if we continue this pace, we get our last votes, and we’re going to sweep statewide…Don’t let them play mind games with us…We know that we are the winning team for Arizona.”
After Gallego spoke, A.E.A. President Marisol Garcia introduced NEA President Becky Pringle and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
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From AEA Twitter.[/caption]NEA President Becky Pringle says we need "Arizona's power."
In the best speech of the event, NEA President Becky Pringle excited the audience with her charismatic remarks.
She first praised Marisol Garcia’s leadership and the teachers who led the Red for Ed Movement in 2018 where they “showed their power.” She also singled them out for helping pass Prop 208, electing Mark Kelly and “electing a President of the United States, Joe Biden.”
Pringle said she was here because “I need your power Arizona. I need it. We need it,” saying “you have the weight of the Democracy on your shoulders. It’s not just about Arizona. It’s about every single state in this country. It’s about every student. It’s about every educator. It’s about every community. Arizona, we need your power.”
She then talked about working to get out the vote to ensure the continuation of Biden/Harris and Democratic priorities. President Pringle then went through a list, saying:
“Do we want student loan forgiveness?” The crowd yelled yes.
“Do we want to make sure educators are respected?” The crowd chanted yes.
“Do we want to ensure that every student has everything that they need so they can build on their brilliance?” The crowd said yes.
Pringle attacked the Republican priorities of defunding public education, privatizing it, discriminating against students, and restricting women’s rights, saying educators and Democrats “choose progress. We choose community. We choose Democracy…It is we the people, we the people, we the people. All of us deserve that right to be truly free, to pursue happiness…I wish I can shut up but I can’t and I won’t. I need you to get everyone who likes you or loves you or intends to keep living with you to vote for the people that we know care about our kids and care about our communities…everybody who is fighting for our kids…I hear you Arizona…You will lift up your voice, and you won’t give in. You will lift up each other and will not stop. We’re going to win. We will win…Our babies are depending on us to be worthy of them, but we have allies." Then she introduced the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden.
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From C-Span[/caption]First Lady and educator Dr. Jill Biden Warns about drastically different visions for America.
Down-to-earth First Lady and educator Dr. Jill Biden eloquently concluded the morning event by first honoring the contributions of Arizona's educators, offering:
“When our students are struggling, we help, and the results are the lives we change. Right now, someone out there is a better thinker because of you. Someone is standing a little taller because you helped her find the confidence she needed. Someone is working a little harder because you pushed him to try. Someone is kinder because you showed her what that meant and someone is braver because you helped him find his courage... We’re not just doers in the classroom. When our students come to class hungry…when our schools need more support. When we see injustice and inequality, we speak up. We organize. We fight for the communities we care about and we never give up. Right now, we are fighting for the future of our country."
"Educators, especially here in Arizona, helped elect my husband, Joe because he knows how to get things done and he’s delivered results again and again. He did it with just a slim margin in Congress and partners like Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Ruben Gallego. We can’t keep that momentum going without Katie Hobbs leading here in Arizona…"
“This election is a choice between two drastically different visions for our country. In one, Democrats up and down the ballot keep going to build on the historic progress that we’ve made. And in the other, Republicans are ramping up their attacks on workers, standing with corporations. They’re putting Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block and trying to pass a nationwide abortion ban. They’re once again giving tax cuts to the corporations and the wealthy, and that’s just not fair, is it…We are just three days away until the election, and it could just come down to a handful of votes…”
Saying again that races are going to be so close, she called everyone to action, relaying, “the only way that we can win is by showing up. We have to encourage others to vote, no matter how busy they are so put voting at the top of your to-do list…Help make sure that your fellow educators, neighbors, and friends do the same…We all have that teacher voice that makes people stop what they are doing and pay attention. Well, now is the time to use it because this election is going to come down to the little moments: one ballot cast: yours. One phone call to a neighbor who maybe forgot to vote. One ride offering to get to a polling place. Again and again, these small actions build up to something, bigger than anything we can do alone. So, it starts with you. It starts right here, right now, today. It starts with all of us, digging a little deeper, working a little harder, and believing that yes, we will win. Thank you.”
Readers can click here to view Representative Gallego, Ms. Pringle's First Lady-Dr. Biden's remarks in their entirety.
This election is about the future.
The future for children.
The future for freedom.
The future of the economy.
The future of Democracy and the Republic.
We all need to do our part to make sure that the future is a good one where we all move forward and are lifted up.
Please remember to turn out and vote on November 8, 2022, if you have not already voted early or mailed in your ballot.
The future becomes bleak if you do not.
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