Republican candidates for Arizona Congressional District 7 supported President Donald Trump's deployment of the California National Guard during a debate Monday night.
Daniel Francis Butierez, Jorge Rivas and Jimmy Rodriguez are competing in the Republican primary in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Arizona, who died in March. They fielded questions about the Trump administration during a debate presented by the Arizona Media Association.
Butierez said he supported Trump sending the California National Guard to deal with anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.
Rivas said Trump is trying to enforce the laws on the books. Rivas then blamed former President Joe Biden and his administration for the nation’s border problems.
“(Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro) Mayorkas was lying when he said the border was secure,” said Rivas.
Rodriguez also supported Trump’s decision on deploying the National Guard.
“I blame the governor of California for not being strong enough to get illegals out of California,” said Rodriguez on the same day as Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta's lawsuit over Trump sending in the National Guard.
“We need to finish the wall and have more border patrol and drones,” said Butierez.
Regarding the border issue of drug control, Rivas said other countries including China have tough laws and even the death penalty for drugs. Rivas believes the U.S. should also have tougher laws.
When moderators changed the subject and asked candidates about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and whether they support cuts to Medicaid, Rodriguez stressed what Republicans want are changes to combat waste, fraud and abuse.
