Garcia joined by Sanders to encourage voter turnout, some Democrats not “Feeling the Bern”

With less than two weeks left until the midterm elections, candidates are bringing well-known politicians to help get Arizonans to the polls.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D) yesterday traveled to the University of Arizona and Arizona State University with gubernatorial candidate David Garcia (D) to encourage young adults to vote.

Although the event was intended to unite Democrats, a number of prominent Democratic candidates were noticeably absent. Among those missing were U.S. Senate candidate Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema; former Mayor Greg Stanton, who is seeking the open seat in Congressional District 9; and Hiral Tipirneni, the Democratic candidate running against Congresswoman Debbie Lesko in Congressional District 8.

“We have the most important midterm election in the modern history of this country coming in two weeks,” Sanders said. “We need, from coast-to-coast, to elect strong progressive governors. I know that in the next two weeks each of you is going to do everything they can to make sure that David Garcia is the next governor of Arizona.”

Sanders, who is known for his extremely progressive platform in the 2016 presidential race, talked to Arizonans about how to fix the political system that he is unhappy with.

“This country has struggled for too many years with discrimination. We are not going backwards, we are going forwards,” Sanders said. “In two weeks, [people] in Arizona can help make American history, give us a strong, progressive governor. Please elect David Garcia.”

Garcia is challenging Republican incumbent Doug Ducey for the seat of Arizona Governor.

Garcia is running on a platform that includes expanded government healthcare programs and taxpayer-funded college tuition.

“This system is broken, and we have to go out there and fix it. I’m an everyday guy looking to make a difference for his state,” Garcia said. “I am running so that in 10 years from now [my daughters] know that their papa did everything he could to fight for his home state.”

In the 2014 midterm, the United States saw the lowest voter turnout since World War II. Candidates from both major parties are holding “Get Out the Vote” rallies in hopes that the 2018 midterm draws a record number of voters.

“In these dangerous and unprecedented times, you’ve got to do more than just cast your ballot. You’ve got to go and get your friends and family and coworkers and get them to vote as well. We’ve got about a thousand people here tonight, that’s a great turnout. If each of you can bring out three additional people that one thousand votes for David suddenly becomes four thousand votes, let’s do that,” Sanders said.

Garcia is trailing in recent polls, with Gov. Ducey leading by double digit margins.