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Congressional candidates urge importance of voting during Arizona Native Vote Forum

Republican candidate Jeff Zink at the 2024 Arizona Native Vote Forum.
Gabriel Pietrorazio/KJZZ
Republican candidate Jeff Zink at the 2024 Arizona Native Vote Forum.

The Arizona Native Vote Forum is wrapping up Wednesday after a three-day-long event hosted by various organizations, including Four Directions Native Vote. The goal of the event is to encourage Native Americans to vote in the upcoming election.

If Native Americans want a voice in Congress, they need to vote. That was the message from congressional candidates and others at the forum. On Monday Republican Daniel Butierez and Democrat Quacy Smith spoke. Both are facing uphill battles. Butierez, in CD7 covering southern Arizona, spoke about fentanyl awareness and homelessness. Smith is in CD9, covering western Arizona, a Republican stronghold. He spoke about how he would be an ally in Congress for the Native population.

Republican Jeff Zink in CD3 says it’s important to familiarize those who are elected about the issues facing Native Americans.

“How much do we have to educate the people around us?” Zink said. “And the thing is they don’t know, but as soon as they do know, they start caring.”

Zink added why he thinks it’s important to attend events such as the forum.

“This is by far one of the more important events that I can do for two reasons. One is that the Native Americans have been neglected and overlooked,” Zink said. “The other thing is, or the second part of that is that my family. I have family that are indigenous.”

Zink is running against Democratic candidate Yassamin Ansari. CD3 is a Democrat stronghold covering most of Phoenix.

Other speakers, such as Stacey Abrams, former democratic nominee for Georgia governor, was at the event and emphasized the importance of increasing voter turnout among Native Americans in 2024.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct the name of the organization Four Directions Native Vote.

Natalie Guzman was an intern at KJZZ in 2024.