As the frenzy of the 2024 campaign season edges toward Election Day, local Arizona restaurants like Cocina Adamex in Phoenix and Delicias Mexican Grill in Tucson have found themselves benefiting from the whirlwind of national political visits. Cocina Adamex, located on 7th Avenue in downtown Phoenix, experienced a significant boost in business after Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, dined there during their campaign tour. Owner Adriana Zapata shared with ABC15 that the restaurant's profits increased by 10% daily for weeks following the high-profile visit, turning the campaign stop into a boon for the business.
In Tucson, Evelyn Romero of Delicias Mexican Grill shared a similar story of fortune after then-Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance purchased 200 tacos following a rally at the Pima County Fairgrounds. Speaking to ABC15, Romero described the excitement and nervousness before Vance’s arrival, calling it a "bright spot" in what had been a tough year for the business, nearly leading to its closure. Vance’s visit not only brought in immediate profits but also shone a spotlight on the restaurant, revitalizing interest among locals and visitors alike.
While these local establishments enjoy the economic benefits of political visits, the campaign itself rages on. NPR correspondents Franco Ordoñez and Asma Khalid report on the intense strategies deployed by candidates in the final days. Vice President Harris, focusing on key battlegrounds like Michigan and North Carolina, contrasted with former President Donald Trump’s packed rally schedule, where he continued his fiery rhetoric and unproven voter fraud claims. Both campaigns converged on Reading, Pennsylvania, a pivotal city for its Latino voter base, underscoring the fierce battle for influence. For Arizona’s small businesses, however, the intersection of local commerce and national politics has become an unexpected silver lining in an otherwise polarized season.
