A campaign office for Vice President Kamala Harris in Tempe, Arizona, has been damaged by gunfire. The incident occurred early Monday, September 23, adding to concerns about political violence ahead of the 2024 election.
According to Tempe police, gunshots were fired into the front windows of the Democratic National Committee office, which houses staff for Harris’ presidential campaign as well as state and federal Democratic campaigns. Fortunately, no one was present in the office at the time of the shooting. Public Information Officer Sgt. Ryan Cook stated to NBC News, “No one was inside the office during the overnight hours, but this raises concerns about the safety of those who work in that building, as well as those nearby.”
This is the second time in recent weeks that the office has been targeted. On September 16, the front windows were struck by what appeared to be a BB gun or pellet gun. No suspects have been identified in either incident, but police are investigating both cases and have increased security measures in the area.
Harris Campaign Response
Sean McEnerney, campaign manager for the Arizona Democratic Party, expressed his dismay over the attacks. “Overnight, several shots were fired into our Tempe Democratic Party coordinated campaign office. No one was present or injured,” McEnerney said in a statement.
Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano echoed concerns about rising political violence. “It’s extremely sad that the Arizona Democratic Party has become the target of violence – it’s not who we are as Arizonans or Americans,” she said.
Bejarano added that the party is cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the safety of their staff. “We are working with law enforcement to ensure this threat is taken seriously.”
Harris is set to visit Arizona later this week as part of her presidential campaign, and the shooting underscores the heightened risks candidates and their teams face. The campaign office in Tempe is one of 18 field offices Harris is relying on to boost voter turnout in the crucial battleground state.