A week ago, Justin Harris was brought on stage by Donald Trump to make a “special announcement” during the former president’s campaign rally in Glendale.
Harris, the president of the Arizona Police Association, then spoke of his organization — “the largest law enforcement association in Arizona,” he noted — and their decision to endorse Trump.
“If you support law enforcement and safe communities, vote Trump,” Harris said onstage. “If you support getting our country back on track and making America great again, vote Donald J. Trump for president.”
The same endorsement would not be extended to the speaker who immediately preceded Trump, someone who has the former president’s support — Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Kari Lake.
Instead, the association announced Monday that it had endorsed U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, the Democratic nominee in the Senate race who Trump described onstage Friday as “a freaking loser.”
“The APA does not take our endorsements lightly,” Harris wrote in a statement. “We recognize the importance of having a U.S. senator that can bring people together to improve society for all. We believe Congressman Gallego will be that U.S. senator.”
We are proud to endorse Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego ) for the US Senate. Please read our endorsement letter below... pic.twitter.com/WbswN9AxCM
— Arizona Police Association (@AZPoliceAssc) August 26, 2024
In a press release, the APA praised Gallego’s support of robust funding for Arizona law enforcement, and cited Gallego’s experience as a Marine combat veteran as evidence the congressman understands “the complexities of modern policing,” Harris said.
In his own statement, Gallego welcomed the endorsement, and lauded his work alongside the APA to take “meaningful steps towards both practical reforms and increased resources – with both community and officer safety as our number one goal.”
The APA describes itself as an umbrella organization — “an association of associations” — that brings together various law enforcement entities from across the state of Arizona.
While the APA detailed specific legislation Gallego backed to boost hiring and retention of police officers, a spokesperson for Lake accused Gallego of supporting the defunding of police and vilifying law enforcement while in Congress.
“He supports open borders and is weak on crime,” the spokesperson said. “Kari Lake will always back the blue and support law enforcement and safe communities.”
Lake boasts her own endorsements from various law enforcement groups, including the Arizona Law Enforcement Association, the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs, and the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association.
