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BREAKING: GOP Takes Big Lead In First Election Ballots Cast In Must-Have State

ELECTIONS

Republicans are significantly outpacing Democratic turnout in a crucial Arizona county that seems to be slipping away from Vice President Kamala Harris. In Maricopa County, the center of the controversial 2022 recount that made Kari Lake a household name, more than two-thirds of Election Day voters are supporting former President Donald Trump, according to Newsmax correspondent Alex Salvi. As of 11:40 a.m. EST, 23,919 Republicans had cast their ballots on Election Day, accounting for 42.5% of the total votes counted so far. In contrast, only 11,324 Democrats have voted in Maricopa County, which includes the capital city of Phoenix, making up just over 20% of all votes cast on Tuesday.

Before this year, the Sun Belt states were not typically seen as competitive in presidential elections. Arizona went for Trump in 2016 by just over 4%, but flipped to President Joe Biden in 2020. Meanwhile, Nevada, which hasn’t supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004, seems to be leaning toward Trump as well, prompting Vice President Harris to focus her efforts on Pennsylvania on Monday night as she searches for a narrow path to 270 electoral votes.

In many respects, Arizona has become ground zero for America’s immigration crisis, which, polls show, most Americans believe Trump did a much better job than ‘border czar’ Harris. Breaches along the U.S.-Mexico border have resulted in a surge of illegal migrants and those granted asylum by the Biden-Harris administration. Simultaneously, Texas has maintained an active bussing program, sending its migrant arrivals to states like Arizona, which is straining its shelter system. A poll from May indicated that only 13% of Arizonans believe President Joe Biden would prioritize addressing illegal immigration if reelected.

Kari Lake, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate backed by Trump’s endorsement, has highlighted voter dissatisfaction with immigration as a central focus of her campaign. This strategy seems to be yielding results, as recent polling shows her in a tight race with Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). The same poll, conducted late last month, indicated that Trump has widened his lead over Harris, now standing at 49.7% to 41.9%.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Cobb County cannot accept absentee ballots after Election Day, a ruling that is seen as a win for former President Donald Trump, the GOP, and election integrity. Last Thursday, the Cobb County Board of Elections announced that it had failed to send out over 3,000 absentee ballots in a timely manner and would mail them via express shipping or overnight delivery the following day, according to Democracy Docket. Three voters subsequently filed a lawsuit, arguing that there wasn’t enough time to ensure the ballots would arrive in time to be counted.

They requested an extension of the deadline to November 8, which is the deadline for overseas voters to return their ballots in the contested swing state. The Republican National Committee and the Georgia Republican Party intervened to block the extension of the absentee ballot receipt deadline. But the Peach State’s highest court swatted down that request.

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Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.