Kelly Fryer's Chances Against Ducey: A Realistic Outlook

Kelly Fryer, a Democrat from Tucson, Arizona, ran for governor in the state's 2018 election. Fryer, a former pastor and CEO of the YWCA of Southern Arizona, was a political newcomer who had never held public office. She joined a crowded field of Democratic candidates, including David Garcia and Steve Farley, both of whom had been campaigning for over six months before Fryer entered the race. Despite her late start and lack of political experience, Fryer was confident that her message would resonate with voters and that she could advance to the general election to face the well-funded incumbent, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey. Fryer's campaign focused on issues such as education funding, income equality, criminal justice reform, and immigration. She positioned herself as an anti-establishment candidate with an economic populist agenda. While Fryer's exact chances of winning against Ducey are unclear, she faced an uphill battle in a state that has leaned right in recent years and where Republicans outnumbered Democrats in registration. Ultimately, Fryer lost in the Democratic primary, with Garcia defeating both her and Farley to secure the nomination.

Kelly Fryer's political inexperience

Despite her lack of traditional political experience, Fryer does not view this as a drawback. She believes that her blunt style and ability to connect with voters will be advantageous. Fryer has also shown herself to be a strong communicator, willing to call out issues and present her vision for the state. She has travelled extensively across Arizona, covering over 10,000 miles to visit every county, aiming to build relationships with people across the state.

Fryer's campaign platform includes a focus on improving public education, addressing economic inequality, and promoting innovation in rural areas. She also intends to tackle issues such as immigration, criminal justice reform, and gender equity. While she acknowledges the challenges posed by her lack of political experience, she embraces adversity and is determined to work harder to overcome obstacles.

In the Democratic primary election for Governor of Arizona in 2018, Fryer lost to David Garcia, who had the support of several endorsements and polled higher than Fryer. Despite her loss, Fryer's campaign highlighted important issues and contributed to a broader conversation about the direction of the state.

Her ability to connect with voters

Kelly Fryer's ability to connect with voters is a key part of her political strategy. She has said that she expects to knit together disparate communities: women, tribal residents, LGBT residents and progressive voters.

Fryer has also emphasised the importance of a candidate that has the ability to communicate with regular folks about what is going on the state. She has said that she is disenchanted with the other Democrats running for governor, and that she is running because she felt that the other candidates were not talking about the issues that she, and the people of Arizona, cared about.

In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Fryer said that she had connected with voters while travelling the state. She claimed to have put 26,000 miles on her vehicle since announcing her campaign in January. Fryer has also said that she is spending time during this primary activating, engaging, listening to all of the voters. She has travelled to nine out of 15 counties, meeting voters in coffee shops, restaurants, parks, and at the county fair.

Fryer's strategy appears to be working, with one poll showing her with the support of 9% of Democratic voters. However, she still has a way to go, as her opponent, David Garcia, was polling at 33%.

Her stance on education

Kelly Fryer, a Democrat who ran for Governor of Arizona in 2018, has a clear stance on education. She believes that the best school in every neighbourhood should be the local public school. She is a strong proponent of public schools and does not think that public dollars should fund private schools. Fryer wants to end the voucher system for private schools and hold charter schools to the same standards as public schools. She also advocates for paying teachers professional salaries and treating them as such. Fryer believes that teachers should have flexibility in the curriculum and be allowed to use their creativity. She attributes the struggles of schools to the curriculum and testing straitjacket that has handicapped teachers.

Fryer's vision for Arizona includes making it the centre of a "new economic boom" based on renewable energy, small businesses, and effective local (district) public schools. She wants to make charter schools "transparent, accountable, and rare," which is a bold statement in a state that values school choice. Fryer recognises the importance of old-fashioned publicly run public schools as the great leveller, providing all children, especially those from low-income families, with the opportunity to succeed.

She also highlights the need for innovation zones in rural and small-town Arizona, such as in places like Ajo and Kingman, which have suffered from industrial collapse and a lack of state support. Fryer aims to drive economic development in these areas and invest in sustainable, equitable, local, small businesses across the state. She believes that these small businesses are the heart and soul of Arizona's economy and culture.

Furthermore, Fryer intends to stand against the Trump administration and address the out-of-control ICE behaviour in the state. She wants to incorporate and lift up immigrant neighbours and take a humane approach to immigration. Fryer also supports providing childcare subsidies for low-income families and making community college vocational technical programs debt-free for all Arizonans.

Overall, Fryer's stance on education focuses on strengthening public schools, supporting teachers, and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students in Arizona.

Her anti-establishment tone

Kelly Fryer's anti-establishment tone was evident in her 2018 campaign for Governor of Arizona, where she positioned herself as an outsider and a progressive change-maker. As a first-time political candidate, Fryer embraced her lack of political experience, believing that voters would connect with her blunt, no-nonsense style. She described herself as the only candidate with "the ovaries to call out the BS," setting herself apart from her opponents.

Fryer's anti-establishment stance was particularly aimed at her Democratic primary rivals, Steve Farley and David Garcia. She criticised them for running safe campaigns, accusing them of being too moderate and failing to address the issues that mattered to Arizonans. Fryer, on the other hand, presented herself as a bold and transparent leader who was willing to tackle tough issues such as economic inequality, immigration, criminal justice reform, and gender equity. She believed that her message would resonate with voters across the state, especially in rural communities, where she felt her opponents had fallen short.

Fryer's campaign strategy reflected her anti-establishment approach. She embarked on a statewide tour, visiting all 15 counties and meeting voters face-to-face in coffee shops, restaurants, and parks. She believed that her ability to connect with everyday people would be key to her success, rather than relying solely on campaign funding. This strategy set her apart from her primary opponents, who focused their efforts primarily on Maricopa County.

In addition to her focus on grassroots engagement, Fryer also had a detailed policy agenda. She advocated for public schools, teacher salaries, and ending the voucher system for private schools. She also addressed issues such as Arizona's sluggish economic recovery, infrastructure issues, and the state's struggling education system. Fryer's economic agenda included plans to boost small businesses and create innovation zones in rural and small-town Arizona.

Fryer's anti-establishment tone extended beyond her primary campaign. She was highly critical of the incumbent Republican Governor, Doug Ducey, whom she accused of being a terrible businessman who had mismanaged the state. She also took aim at the billionaire Koch brothers, who were major donors to Ducey's campaign, and the National Republican Governors Association, which spent millions of dollars in attack ads against her Democratic opponents.

Ultimately, Fryer's anti-establishment campaign fell short, as she lost the Democratic primary to Garcia. However, her willingness to challenge the political status quo and her focus on progressive issues left a mark on the race and energised a segment of the Democratic base in Arizona.

Her ability to gain funding

Kelly Fryer's ability to gain funding for her campaign for governor of Arizona was a challenge, given that she was a political newcomer and had never held public office. Fryer's campaign strategy focused on connecting with voters across the state, rather than relying solely on financial backing. She travelled extensively, covering over 26,000 miles to meet with people in rural communities, coffee shops, restaurants, parks, and county fairs. This approach allowed her to build relationships and gain support, even in areas where other Democratic candidates were not actively campaigning.

Despite her lack of political experience, Fryer demonstrated her ability to gain funding by tapping into the energy of the Women's March and progressive causes. She positioned herself as a bold and transparent leader, willing to address issues that other candidates were not, such as economic inequality, immigration, criminal justice reform, and gender equity. This approach resonated with voters who were seeking a candidate who genuinely cared about the issues affecting Arizona.

Fryer also recognised the importance of utilising modern campaign strategies. She understood that money was not the sole determinant of electoral success and that an "old-fashioned campaign" could be effective. Fryer's campaign focused on face-to-face interactions and building a strong base of support, particularly in the Tucson area and Maricopa County. She aimed to activate and engage voters, listening to their concerns and connecting with them on a personal level.

While Fryer may not have had the same level of financial backing as her opponents, her ability to gain funding through grassroots support and her innovative campaign strategies cannot be overlooked. She recognised the value of connecting with voters and building a strong base, which ultimately contributed to her success in gaining funding for her campaign.

Fryer's campaign also benefited from the broader political context. The year she ran, there was a wave of progressive movements across the state, and the teachers' protests brought attention to the issues Fryer was passionate about. Additionally, the midterm election year created an opportunity for Democrats to mobilise voters and potentially score an upset.

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