Mohave County Republicans hold picnic
Republicans in the northwest corner of the state pushed ahead with their annual picnic last weekend despite a surge in coronavirus cases in ruby-red Mohave County, home to Kingman and Lake Havasu City.
Many of those gathered for the Mohave County Republican Picnic at a park in Kingman were not wearing masks — and many were seated together on picnic benches at the outdoor event.
Pictures posted on social media by the state Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward showed many were flouting CDC recommendations that people wear face coverings in public settings and around those who don’t live together, especially when physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
Sam Scarmardo, chairman of the Mohave County Republican Party, hung up when asked by an Arizona Republic reporter about lack of adherence to public health directives at the event.
“You know, I’m not even going to go there with you,” he said before hanging up the phone.
The event on July 18 came as Arizona hit more than 141,000 known cases of COVID-19 and 2,730 known deaths. On that day, Mohave County surpassed Coconino County in total deaths, at 106.
Over the two weeks before the event, statewide cases increased by 49%, and Mohave County cases increased 64%.
The event drew well over 50 people, the limit on gatherings by Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order that seeks to limit the spread of the virus. However, this political picnic, and others like it, are exempted from the order as constitutionally protected activities.
Reached by phone on Monday in an effort to discuss her comments to the local newspaper about trusting event organizers to take precautions against COVID-19, Mohave County Supervisor Hildy Angius hung up on a Republic reporter, saying, “You know what? Call someone else, I have no comment.”
Those gathered for the event — many of them older adults — heard from Ward, who is from the area, Rep. Paul Gosar, who represents a portion of the area in Congress, and Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz.
“Awesome day at the Mohave County Republican Picnic,” Ward wrote on Facebook. “It’s the first time that I can remember that a sitting US Senator attended the picnic — it was great to hear from Sen. McSally & Congressman Gosar — both endorsed by President Donald J Trump!”
Gosar, a far-right conservative, has downplayed the severity of the virus’ spread in the state, even as caseloads skyrocketed and the state spiraled into a national hot spot.
McSally, who has been advocating in interviews and on social media for the public to wear masks, was the only person seen wearing a mask in the photos posted by Ward. She took off her mask to speak to the crowd and was physically distanced while doing so, one photo showed.
After pausing in-person events early on because of the virus, McSally physically returned to the campaign trail in early June with a fundraiser her team said adhered to public health protocols.
Her Democratic rival for the seat, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, has no inperson events scheduled, his spokesman said.
Caroline Anderegg, a spokeswoman for McSally’s campaign, said in a written statement the senator advocates for public health guidelines, and follows them herself.
“While Mark Kelly continues to hide and run a proxy campaign through the press, Martha McSally is taking every opportunity to safely and directly hear from Arizonans about their biggest challenges,” Anderegg said. “We continue to support Arizonans’ constitutionally protected rights to peacefully assemble ahead of the most consequential election of our lifetime.”