A roaring crowd, a megachurch packed to capacity, and a sitting president sharing the stage. That was the scene in Phoenix last Friday as Turning Point USA hosted its "Build the Red Wall" rally at Dream City Church.
Thousands showed up for the Republican event, with Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) delivering one of the standout speeches of the evening.
Rep. Ciscomani told attendees that his seat has earned a nickname in Washington.
"This seat is now called the majority maker," he said, adding that the label has made him "the Democrat's top target in the nation." He argued that flipping his district is central to either party's path to controlling Congress, and he vowed to hold it.
Much of his speech focused on the contrast between Republican and Democratic leadership.
Ciscomani told the crowd that no amount of money could persuade Arizonans to return to what he described as open borders, high inflation, and a weakened military.
He framed the upcoming midterm elections as a chance to continue what he called President Trump's first-year successes, pointing to border security, tax cuts, and increased military spending.
But perhaps the most memorable part of Ciscomani's speech was deeply personal. He recalled a conversation with his father just before launching his first congressional campaign.
His father, an immigrant who spent most of his career as a bus driver, posed a simple question: Where else in the world could their family's story happen? "Nowhere else in the world could we have those opportunities — only in America," Ciscomani said.
He used that story to make a broader argument about the American dream, describing it not as a guarantee of wealth or status, but as the freedom to build a better life for your family without excessive government interference.
President in Attendance
With President Donald Trump in attendance, he also spoke at the event, touching on foreign policy, immigration, and the midterm elections.
He highlighted several Arizona political figures, including congressional candidate Jay Feely (R-AZ), Sheriff Mark Lamb (R-AZ), and Senate President Warren Petersen (R-AZ), who is currently running to replace Attorney General Kris Mayes (D-AZ).
President Trump also threw his support behind Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), calling him a "great governor" and reaffirming his endorsement of Biggs' campaign for Arizona's top executive office.
Rep. Biggs himself shared his vision regarding the upcoming gubernatorial race for the state’s future, laying out his agenda before the thousands in attendance.
Fellow congressmen Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Eli Crane (R-AZ), and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) also took the stage, urging conservatives to unite behind Biggs.
Friday night's rally made one thing clear: Arizona is shaping up to be one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the country heading into the next election cycle.
