'I feel more at home here': AZ Republican John Giles rebukes GOP in DNC speech: Watch
The Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona John Giles continued to attack his party's presidential nominee and endorsed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Tuesday.
"I feel more at home here than in today's Republican party," Giles said.
Giles appealed to those in the middle of the political spectrum and praised the Biden-Harris administration for the investments it made in the Phoenix suburb.
Giles first endorsed Harris in an op-ed column in the Arizona Republic ? a part of the USA TODAY Network ? in July pointing to Republican nominee Donald Trump's history of election subversion.
"Since Donald Trump refused to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, Republicans have yet to course correct," Giles wrote. "In the spirit of the late Sen. John McCain’s motto, 'Country First,' I call on other Arizona Republicans to join me in choosing country over party this election and to vote against Donald Trump."
Arizona is set to be a brutal battleground state in November and Giles said in his column that, "The Grand Canyon State is ground zero in the fight against repeated false claims to disrupt our electoral process."
A key element of the electoral environment in Arizona was set in stone Tuesday as the state's Supreme Court cleared the way for an abortion ballot measure to be voted on in the state in November.
Watch Mesa, Arizona John Giles' full speech at the DNC Convention
What to know about Mesa, Arizona Republican Mayor John Giles
Who are they: Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, Republican
What role they play: Giles is one of many Republicans who have spoken or are slated to speak against their party's nominee at the Democratic convention.
Key quote: "I have an urgent message for the majority of Americans who, like me, are in the political middle: John McCain's Republican party is gone and we don't owe a damn thing to what's been left behind."
When and where is the 2024 DNC?
The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois.
The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.
Chicago has hosted the Democratic Convention 11 times, most recently in 1996 when the United Center saw President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second time.
How to watch and stream the 2024 DNC
USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday.
The convention will air live on its website, from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.
DNC Day 2 live updates: Democratic all-stars to take the stage
What are the themes for each night of the DNC?
The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is "For the People, For Our Future."
Here are the themes for each night:
Monday: "For the People"
Tuesday: "A Bold Vision for America's Future"
Wednesday: "A Fight for our Freedoms"
Thursday: "For our Future"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch: Mesa mayor John Giles attacks Trump, endorses Harris at DNC