Arizona Republicans have taken an unexpected lead in early voting this year, with more than 2.2 million Arizonans already casting ballots and Republicans outpacing Democrats by over 182,000 votes. Arizona GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda expressed her confidence in the numbers, saying, “Unless Democrats drastically change their [voting] behavior by Tuesday, I think we’re in a very good position to win at the top of the ticket.”
Republican early-voting turnout is currently at 58.3%, slightly ahead of the Democrats’ 57.4%, while Independents are turning out at just under 38%. Swoboda is particularly encouraged by data showing that many early voters are new or low-propensity Republicans who sat out previous election cycles, which could provide a significant boost.
Caroline Wren — Republicans are looking at +9 lead in Arizona early voting. MAGA turnout was greatly underestimated by polls.pic.twitter.com/9eIXpCFMJw
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 2, 2024
Swoboda assured supporters that these early voters haven’t diminished the GOP’s Election Day turnout potential. With Arizona’s four-page ballot potentially causing delays, Swoboda advised voters to plan ahead for possible lines.
Encouragement for early voting has been evident in the Republican strategy, with recent Trump rallies featuring banners encouraging early turnout. Kari Lake, the GOP Senate candidate, has also embraced early voting, marking a shift from previous GOP skepticism about the practice.
.@kleavittnh: President Trump is holding TEN rallies in the next three days — barnstorming the country. It's been more than 70 days and he has not taken a single day off… If you look at the early voting trends in North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia — Republicans are leading. pic.twitter.com/RMKNZCMwJJ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 2, 2024
Democrats have ramped up their own early-voting efforts, with former President Bill Clinton campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in Phoenix. However, with a notable early-voting lead, Arizona Republicans believe their momentum may carry through Election Day, giving them a strong chance in key state races.
