Arizona Delegation Pledges To Unify At DNC
The Democratic National Convention is underway and Arizona’s delegation remains divided, but they’ve pledged to stay unified despite a series of email leaks that show party leaders trying to undermine Bernie Sanders in favor of eventual nominee Hillary Clinton.
Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego arrived at the convention hall in Philadelphia after navigating a throng of protesters for Sanders.
Gallego, a Clinton supporter, said he believes Arizona’s Democratic delegation can quickly put the controversy behind them and unite. He’s more concerned about how the leaks happened in the first place
“I think it’s disappointing that somebody hacked a private political party’s email system, and then timely released it on the first day of a political convention to clearly have some political effect,” Gallego said. Gallego is set to address the DNC on Wednesday.
Fellow Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Tucson, a Sanders backer and superdelegate at the convention, said for the party to unite, Clinton must make his supporters feel welcome.
“We’re going to have to understand that unity is not about closing ranks," Grijalva said. "Unity is about expanding. And Bernie’s campaign gives them that opportunity.”
Grijalva is a featured speaker on the first night of the convention.
On NPR’s Morning Edition Monday, Grijalva said despite the anger over the DNC’s apparent preferential treatment of Hillary Clinton, he’s firmly behind the presumptive nominee.
And he feels the delegation’s progressives will fall in line.
