Vice President JD Vance will appear next week in Arizona to deliver remarks and speak with residents about America’s future.
Vance will speak in the Tucson area on Monday. The vice president will discuss the future of the Republican Party and its next steps to continue putting America first.
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Sergio Arellano told AZ Free News that Vance has been very involved in electing solid candidates across the country, and that this event would be an opportunity for Arizonans to participate in that effort.
“I am thrilled to invite my fellow Republicans to join us as we hear from our great vice president of the United States,” said Arellano. “The vice president and President Trump have done a remarkable job of bringing peace and prosperity to the globe. I am excited to hear about his plans to make sure that Republicans can continue to make America great again.”
Vance will address Arizonans fresh from handling the rapidly evolving effort to secure peace in the Middle East, after a tentative ceasefire agreement and the cancellation of anticipated talks between the U.S. and Iran on Friday. The vice president was scheduled to visit Switzerland for those talks, but that trip was postponed.
During a Thursday press briefing at the White House, Vance warned Israel against criticizing President Donald Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled opposition — reportedly expressing it more frankly in private — to the president’s peace plan.
“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time,” said Vance. “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 18, 2026
Trump has promised in talks with reporters and on social media that the U.S. remains focused on achieving peace through a complete ceasefire.
Vance has not ruled out a presidential run altogether. The vice president revealed in an interview with CBS earlier this week that the fate of his presidential aspirations would be tied to future conversations with his wife following the midterm elections later this year.
“[T]he way that I make decisions is that I try not to make them until I absolutely must,” said Vance.
Under Arellano, the Arizona Republican Party has focused its involvement in issues relevant at both the local and national scale, like bolstering election integrity and combating the homeless epidemic.
The Arizona Republican Party also hosted the head of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, last month in Mesa to address the waste, fraud, and abuse of Medicaid funds, another pressing topic for taxpayers concerned with the adequacy of government program oversight.
The Tucson speaking event with the vice president is scheduled for Monday, June 22. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., with programming to begin at 11:30 a.m. Individuals interested in attending must register in advance, with one ticket available per person on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Arizona Republican Party Chairman Sergio Arellano joined 550 KFYI’s Conservative Circus host James T. Harris during a visit to downtown Phoenix’s homeless encampment area known as “The Zone,” where he highlighted faith-based outreach efforts and criticized local leadership over homelessness and public safety conditions.
In a video posted by the Arizona Republican Party, Arellano appeared alongside Harris in the downtown Phoenix area known as “The Zone,” which for years drew public attention over homelessness, drug activity, and crime concerns. The Arizona Republican Party said Harris and members of a faith-based group that “receives NO taxpayer dollars” were serving homeless residents in the area.
The party’s post also characterized The Zone as “where the Democrats in charge keep their homeless community drugged and dangerous.”
Sergio Arellano @surgeshow chairman of @azgop Republican Party spent time with @JamesTHarris and members of a faith-based group that receives NO taxpayer dollars to feed and minister to the homeless in "The Zone." The Zone in downtown Phoenix – is where the Democrats in charge… pic.twitter.com/EFWgPOm9Gk
— Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) May 27, 2026
“Good morning, I’m Sergio Arellano, and I am here today with the conservative radio talk show host James T. Harris,” Arellano began in the video. “We’re in this place called The Zone in a blue area of what is Phoenix.”
Arellano linked conditions in the area to Democratic governance and urged voter participation ahead of the upcoming 2026 elections.
“We cannot allow what is happening here to happen to the rest of the state in Democrat-controlled communities,” Arellano said. “This is what you get. You get lack of response, lack of resources.”
Arellano also praised the faith-based nonprofit operating in the area and alleged that Phoenix officials under Mayor Kate Gallego had moved to restrict its activities. “People that are making a difference here — this non-profit — are getting kicked out by the liberal city and mayor,” Arellano said.
“That’s why it is very important that you get involved in November. You talk with your neighbors, you register people to vote, and have them turn out this election.”
The chairman warned that Arizona could face worsening homelessness conditions without political change.
“Because if not, you’re going to get amplified times 10,” Arellano said. “Skid Row, exactly like Los Angeles, is coming here to Arizona. We need to stop that. Register to vote. Get up. Make a difference.”
Harris has regularly participated in Sunday outreach efforts in downtown Phoenix with The Bridge for Community Services, a non-profit where he serves as Corporate Vice President and Executive Director, and has previously described the work as a Christian ministry serving homeless residents in the area.
The Zone, located near downtown Phoenix, became nationally known in recent years as one of the city’s largest homeless encampments. The area was the subject of litigation and enforcement disputes involving the City of Phoenix, nearby businesses, and residents, as previously reported by AZ Free News. In 2023, a court ordered Phoenix to clear portions of the encampment following allegations involving crime, sanitation problems, and unsafe conditions.
According to an April 30 report by 12News, after three years, hundreds of homeless people are living in the area again, with outreach teams counting more than 300 living there at the time.
The Arizona Republican Party’s post did not identify the nonprofit involved in the outreach effort, though Harris has previously documented recurring faith-based outreach activities in the area through social media posts.
The Arizona Republican Party is ramping up its election integrity operations ahead of the 2026 election cycle, naming attorney Greg Roeberg as legal counsel to oversee legal strategy and respond to anticipated election-related disputes.
Under the leadership of Chairman Sergio Arellano, party officials said Roeberg will help guide legal strategy and election-related operations in the lead-up to statewide races, including a competitive contest for attorney general.
Roeberg, an Arizona-based attorney with experience in business and government law, has served as an election integrity attorney for the Republican National Committee, President Donald Trump, and Republican candidates in Arizona during the 2020, 2022, and 2024 election cycles.
In an exclusive statement to AZ Free News, Arellano explained that election integrity remains a central issue for voters heading into 2026.
“Election integrity is a mandate from Arizona voters, and Greg Roeberg has already proven he knows how to fight and win on that front— having represented President Trump and Republican candidates in the most consequential election battles in our state,” Arellano said.
Arellano also referenced ongoing disputes between Republicans and Arizona election officials, including Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, stating that the party is preparing legal resources to respond to election administration issues in the coming cycle.
“We have seen how far Adrian Fontes will go to assert his will to subvert fair and free elections, and the AZGOP stands ready now to protect voters,” Arellano said.
Roeberg said he is “honored to serve the Arizona Republican Party” and emphasized the importance of legal preparation ahead of the next election.
“After three election cycles in the trenches, I know what’s at stake in this state,” Roeberg said. “I’m ready to get to work alongside Chairman Arellano and our grassroots team to protect the voice of every legal voter in Arizona.”
Earlier in the 2026 cycle, Roeberg launched a campaign for Arizona attorney general before stepping aside to focus on election-related legal work.
The appointment comes as both parties continue building legal and campaign infrastructure ahead of the 2026 election cycle, with election administration and litigation expected to remain a central component of political strategy in Arizona.
The Republican Party of Arizona announced Tuesday that Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and a prominent figure in the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, will headline the party’s annual Legislative Salute event on May 9 in Mesa.
According to a press release from the Arizona Republican Party, the event, marking the revival of a longstanding party tradition, will be held at the Mesa Sheraton Hotel and will recognize Republican lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature.
“Dr. Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and a leader of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement, actively serves on the front lines in the battle against fraudsters who exploit the Medicaid system in primarily blue states and in Arizona under Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs,” the release stated. As reported by Fox News, Dr. Oz is actively investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in five states, with more to come, telling the outlet his concerns reach all fifty states. “We’ve written letters to Minnesota, California, a letter to Florida because we’re worried about the durable medical equipment fraud … New York, Maine, and there are more coming,” Dr. Oz told the outlet. He went on to cite evidence that foreign nationals from Cuba, Russia, and China are involved in fraud schemes all over the country.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz GOES OFF: “Personal Care Services [are] the number one job in New York… The number one job in the entire state… Durable Medical Suppliers, we have a national moratorium that we have stopped allowing new people to enter this business… There are… pic.twitter.com/kazU1LIRaD
“For years, the Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) has hosted the annual Legislative Salute to honor the hard-working Republicans in the Arizona Legislature who serve the public and fight waste, fraud, and abuse on the local level,” AZGOP Chair Sergio Arellano said in a statement. “After this year’s successful legislative session, we decided this was the right time to revive this great tradition.”
Arellano also referenced the Republican-backed $17.9 billion state budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. The budget features $1.45 billion in tax relief over four years and would spend approximately $800 million less than Governor Katie Hobbs’ opposing proposal.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senate Republicans Pass Historic $1.45 Billion Tax Relief Budget- Delivering Permanent Affordability for Families, Workers and Seniors While Protecting Core Services
“Republican legislators have delivered a budget that includes tax relief for Arizona residents,” Arellano stated. “They deserve recognition for their tremendous service to this state, and this event will provide an excellent opportunity for Republicans to come together and celebrate our conservative majority in the Legislature and make plans to keep it.”
The Arizona Republican Party announced the appointment of Greg Roeberg as its new Legal Counsel last week. An Arizona attorney, with nearly two decades of experience in business and government law, Roeberg has become one of the state’s leading voices on election integrity.
Moving to Arizona during law school, Roeberg established a law practice focused on business law, serving entrepreneurs and small businesses in the early years of his career. He holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and Government and a law degree from Georgetown University. He was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2008.
Roeberg is a lifelong Republican and became deeply engaged in politics in 2016 serving on the Trump Presidential Inaugural Committee. He went on to support the Trump Campaign in 2020 with a focus on logistics and election law.
Following his recovery from a 2019 lymphoma diagnosis and successful chemotherapy treatment, Roeberg answered the call again in 2024, serving as Election Integrity Attorney for the Trump campaign in Arizona. He has since represented the Republican National Committee, President Trump, and Republican candidates across the state throughout the 2020, 2022, and 2024 election cycles.
“Greg Roeberg is one of the sharpest legal minds in Arizona, and we are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team,” stated AZGOP Chairman Sergio Arellano. “He has spent nearly twenty years building a distinguished legal and business career, and over the last three election cycles he has been on the front lines defending the integrity of our elections — standing up for President Trump, the RNC, and Republican candidates across this state.”
Earlier this cycle, Roeberg launched a campaign for Arizona Attorney General before stepping down to focus on what he called the most urgent priority of the year: protecting the integrity of Arizona’s elections.
“When Greg made the decision to step away from his own campaign for Attorney General to take on this role, it spoke volumes about his character and his commitment to Arizona,” added Arellano. “He is a fighter, a patriot, and exactly the leader our party needs at this moment. I am proud to welcome him as our Legal Counsel.”
“It’s an honor to serve the Arizona Republican Party and the millions of Arizonans who believe in free, fair, and secure elections,” said Roeberg. “After three election cycles in the trenches, I know what’s at stake in this state. I’m grateful to Chairman Arellano for his trust, and I’m ready to get to work alongside him and our grassroots team to protect the voice of every legal voter in Arizona.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
