GOP Mayor Endorses Harris: “Silence Is Not an Option”

>>> AND AS WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED, "THE WEST WING" IS A PORTRAYAL OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AT ITS BEST, WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS OFTEN WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLE.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE.

HE'S THE REPUBLICAN MAYOR FROM MESA, ARIZONA, JOHN GILES, WHO IS PLEDGING HIS SUPPORT TO KAMALA HARRIS.

AND HE EVEN SPOKE AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

>> FEEL A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE TONIGHT, BUT I FEEL MORE AT HOME HERE THAN IN TODAY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE GRAND OL PARTY HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY EXTREMISTS AND DEVOLVED INTO A CULT.

THE CULT OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> AND HE JOINS HARI NOW TO EXPLAIN WHY HE WAS COME PEOPLED TO SWITCH SIDES, AS WELL AS HOW IMMIGRATION IS ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION, AND THE NEED FOR KAMALA HARRIS TO RESET THE MESSAGING ON THAT ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IN YOUR CAREER, DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE ON A NATIONAL STAGE AS A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN ADDRESSING THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION?

>> NO, I MEAN, IF YOU'D ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, TO LIST 100 THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME THIS YEAR, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM THAT I WOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED.

AS A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, I MEAN, FRANKLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN A -- SUCH A GUNG-HO REPUBLICAN THAT I'VE GOT TO A REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, BUT I CERTAINLY NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED GOING TO A DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

>> OKAY, YOU WERE THERE, PARTLY BECAUSE YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED KAMALA HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT.

WHY THAT CHOICE?

>> YOU KNOW, AS -- AS A MAYOR, I SERVE REALLY IN A NONPARTISAN POSITION.

EVERYONE KNOWS I'M A REPUBLICAN, BUT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, IN MY CITY COUNCIL, I WORK WITH VERY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS AND VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS ON MY CITY COUNCIL, AND WE GET ALONG VERY, VERY WELL, AND WE -- BECAUSE WE FOCUS ON SOLVING PROBLEMS.

AND SO, I DON'T GENERALLY LIKE TO -- TO GET INVOLVED IN TOXIC, YOU KNOW, PARTISAN, POLARIZING EVENTS.

BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S ELECTIONS, OR THERE'S ISSUES THAT REALLY SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VERY PIVOTAL ELECTIONS, I THINK, IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> WAS IT A DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS AND IT WASN'T.

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN MEAN-SPIRITED POLITICS, AND THAT'S WHAT PARTISAN POLITICS IS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNEW IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MY CITY, AND IF I DIDN'T SPEAK OUT, I WOULD REGRET IT.

>> I WONDER -- THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO, WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE A POLITICAL OFFICE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING OR GETTING RE-ELECTED TO OR THEY LOOKED AT THE MATH, SAY, I CAN'T WIN RIGHT NOW, THEY SEEM TO FIND A NEW KIND OF SPINE, AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND LOOK, I MEAN, SENATOR FLAKE FROM ARIZONA COMES TO MIND, BUT YOU'RE ALSO A TERM-LIMITED MAYOR, AND I'M WONDERING, WHY NOW?

WHY CHOOSE TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC SORT OF SPLIT WITH THE TOP OF YOUR TICKET?

>> WELL, I -- I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT, AND NEITHER DO, APPARENTLY, A LOT OF ELECTED REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO SEE REPUBLICANS THAT STILL HAVE TO CONTEND IN PARTISAN PRIMARIES, YOU DON'T SEE VERY MANY OF THEM BEING CRITICAL OF MR. TRUMP.

MY PERSONAL SITUATION IS, I'VE NEVER ASPIRED TO HAVE A JOB OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT I HAVE NOW.

AS MAYOR OF MY HOMETOWN.

AND I'M TERM LIMITED OUT, SO, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT -- THAT'S WHERE I FIND MY COURAGE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS, AND I AM FREE TO SPEAK MY MIND AND TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, WHICH IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD, YOU KNOW, THE FAR-RIGHT AS PART OF OUR COALITION, BUT THAT -- THAT SEGMENT OF THE PARTY HAS TAKEN OVER, AND TO -- TO PARAPHRASE CARRY LAKE, ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES IN ARIZONA, SHE'S TOLD PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE MAGA CONTINGENT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE ROOM.

SO, THAT'S NOT A HEALTHY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU ENDORSED A DEMOCRAT.

BACK IN 2022, YOU ENDORSED MARK KELLY, AND SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THEY WANTED YOU TO -- THEY WANTED OTHER REPUBLICANS TO CEASE RECOGNITION OF YOU AS A REPUBLICAN AND TO CEASE SUPPORTING YOU IN ANY FUTURE ELECTION.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND, YOU KNOW, EVEN TWO YEARS AGO, THAT BIG TENT HAS SHRUNK A LOT SMALLER.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY HAS.

AND THAT'S THE PATH THIS PARTY HAS CONTINUED TO GO DOWN.

IT HASN'T BEEN A WINNING STRATEGY.

IN ARIZONA, THE MAGA PARTY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN EXCLUDING A LOT OF US, AND THEY CONTINUE -- THEY WIN THE PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, AND THEN THEY FAIL MISERABLY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF -- I MEAN, RIGHT NOW IN ARIZONA, THE INDEPENDENTS EQUAL THE NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, OF THIS EXCLUSIONARY POLICY OF THE MAGA CROWD, TRYING TO CLEANSE THE PARTY OF ANYBODY THAT DISAGREES WITH THEM.

>> SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE CENTRIST, FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, PERHAPS LESS PROGRESSIVE FROM THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, WHERE DO THEY GO?

>> WELL, WE'RE -- A LOT OF US ARE POLITICALLY HOMELESS, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU'RE SEEING A PUSH FOR OPEN PRIMARIES, WHERE INSTEAD OF SENDING YOU YOU KNOW, THE FAR-RIGHT AND THE FAR-LEFT CANDIDATES INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND YOU KIND OF HAVE A CHOICE OF THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS, THE MAINSTREAM ELECTORATE GETS TO WEIGH IN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF CHOOSE WHO THE FINAL TWO CANDIDATES WILL BE.

>> LAST NIGHT AT THE CONVENTION, ONE OF THE QUOTES YOU HAD, I HAVE AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WHO LIKE ME ARE IN THE POLITICAL MIDDLE.

JOHN McCAIN'S REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GONE, AND WE DON'T OWE A DAMN THING TO WHAT'S BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT ANIMATES PEOPLE TO STAY LOYAL, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS -- THIS IS -- THIS IS MY POLITICAL TRIBE, I CAN'T DEFECT?

>> WELL, I -- I ABSOLUTELY RELATE TO THEM, AND I'VE BEEN A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, AND IT'S BEEN -- IT HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE IN -- PREVIOUSLY IN MY LIFE WHO TO VOTE FOR.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE -- AS YOU'RE AWARE, NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT VOTING FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE WHEN I KNOW IT'S NOT THE REPUBLICAN.

SO, WE JUST NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY -- THERE'S NO REASON TO FEEL TREMENDOUS LOYALTY TO A POLITICAL PARTY.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO VOTE FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE, AND IN THIS ELECTION, THAT'S NOT DONALD TRUMP.

>> I HAVE TO ASK, I MEAN, I GUESS -- WHAT DREW YOU TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHEN YOU STARTED IN POLITICS?

WHAT IS THAT PARTY LIKE, JUXTAPOSED TO WHERE YOU FIND THE MAJORITY OF POWER IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY?

>> WELL -- AND PEOPLE WILL JILT MATLY ASK ME, WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO BE A REPUBLICAN?

AND THE ANSWER IS, I AM MORE COMFORTABLE IN TERMS OF POLITICAL POSITIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAN I AM IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OPEN BORDERS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S ADVOCATED FOR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I CONTINUE TO BE PRO-LIFE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE THE EIGHT OR NINE TOP ISSUES THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS FOUNDED ON, YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY THERE WITH THEM ON SIX OR SEVEN OF THEM.

AND SO, I RESENT BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PARTY WHERE MY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES ARE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED.

I DIDN'T LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO LEAVE ME.

AND I THINK IT'S -- WE -- I NEED TO REMIND THEM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT VOICES LIKE MINE CONTINUE TO REMAIN IN THE PARTY, AND POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY DIRECTION, THAT WE ARE SPIRALING DOWN INTO OBSCURITY AS A PARTY.

>> TELL ME -- LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BORDER AND IMMIGRATION.

YOU ARE A BORDER STATE, YOU KNOW THIS VERY WELL.

TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS HAD, AND WHY THIS IS SO ANIMATING FOR REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND EVEN DEMOCRATS IN ARIZONA.

>> SURE.

AS A BORDER STATE, WE SEE FIRST-HAND THE IMPACT OF ANY TIME THERE'S A SURGE AT THE BORDER, OR -- WE HAVE SOME FAILED POLICIES AT THE BORDER, AND IN OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE -- KAMALA HARRIS NEEDS TO GET OUT AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MORE RECENTLY UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN TO MODIFY ASYLUM SEEKERS AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE POLICIES AT THE BORDER, THEY ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO ACTUALLY FIX THE LOOPHOLES IN OUR IMMIGRATION AND BORDER POLICIES.

SO, THE SOLUTION -- SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BORDER ACT THAT MY OWN SENATOR CINEMA AND CONSERVATIVE SENATOR LANGFORD AND OTHERS WORKED ON FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS, WAS ABSOLUTELY AGREED TO BY THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES, AND THE PRESIDENT.

AND WAS ON ITS WAY TO HAVING SOME REAL IMPACT UNTIL DONALD TRUMP DECIDED THAT HE WANTED THIS VERY DIVISIVE, EMOTIONAL WEDGE ISSUE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS -- IT WOULD PLAY TO HIS POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.

SO, THAT, TO ME, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY DONALD TRUMP IS DISQUALIFIED AS PRESIDENT.

HIS PRIORITIES CLEARLY ARE NOT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO SAY, LOOK, I'M NOT FOR WIDE OPEN BORDERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO AM TRYING TO EMPATHIZE WITH THE REASON THAT SOME OF THESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE MAKING THESE INCREDIBLY TREACHEROUS JOURNEYS.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRY TO REACH THIS BALANCE?

>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S A VERY COMPELLING HUMAN ELEMENT TO THIS SITUATION, AND THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, REAL SUFFERING THAT IS HARD TO IGNORE AND THAT WE NEED TO BE EMPATHETIC FOR.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE SEND CONFLICTING MESSAGES, AND THAT PROVOKES PEOPLE TO TAKE THESE -- TAKE ON THESE VERY DANGEROUS JOURNEYS AND TO EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO THESE TYPES OF DANGERS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SOUND POLICY.

AND FRANKLY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR BORDERS RIGHT NOW ARE THE CARTELS THAT ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE FOLKS, AND THEN THEY HAVE -- THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWYERS THAT HELP THEM EXPLOIT THE LOOPHOLES IN OUR LAW, IN OUR BORDER POLICY.

SO, SHAME ON US FOR NOT BEING -- FOR NOT SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE AND FOR NOT HAVING CLEAR POLICIES.

I CAN TELL YOU, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED IMMIGRATION IN OUR COUNTRY.

IN MY CITY, I HAVE A LOT MORE JOBS THAN I HAVE PEOPLE.

AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.

THE BORDER IS NOT A LIABILITY IN ARIZONA, THE BORDER IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE.

IT'S AN AMAZING PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND SO, THAT'S PART OF WHY I'M SO ANXIOUS TO SEE IMMIGRATION REFORM, IS WE NEED TO -- FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT AN ASSET THE BORDER IS, WE NEED TO HELP RESET THAT MIND-SET.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS -- AND HIS SUPPORTERS -- HAVE MADE QUITE A FEW ADS TALKING ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS AS A FAILED IMMIGRATION AND BORDER CZAR.

WHAT WAS -- YOU KNOW IN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD TO SPEAK WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO HER, WHAT WAS YOUR KIND OF NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT YOU FELT LIKE SHE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT, AS PRESIDENT?

BECAUSE WHAT SHE COULD DO MAYBE AS AN EXECUTIVE ACTION IS DIFFERENT THAN BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS.

>> WELL, I THINK SHE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY THAT, THAT WHAT POWER DOES THE EXECUTIVE HAVE IN INFLUENCING THIS, ABSENT ACTION FROM CONGRESS.

DONALD TRUMP HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF TITLE 42, YOU KNOW, FOR A GOOD PORTION OF HIS PRESIDENCY, THE BORDER WAS UNDER A LARGE LOCKDOWN BASED ON COVID.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TRIED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL THE COURTS TOLD HIM HE COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE.

SO, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS HAS TO EXPLAIN WHAT HER ROLE HAS BEEN TO THIS POINT, THE GOOD WORK THAT SHE DID IN THE NORTHERN TRY ANGLE, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF MIGRATION OUT OF THAT PORTION OF THE WORLD, BUT ALSO THAT -- AND SHE HAS DONE THIS, THAT SHE'S VERY WILLING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT THAT WAS POISED TO BE PASSED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SHE CONTINUES TO BE COMMITTED TO THAT, AND THAT'S A GOOD SOLUTION.

IT'S FAR FROM PERFECT.

IT'S VERY MUCH A COMPROMISE.

IT DOESN'T INCLUDE IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE ADDRESSING DREAMERS, BUT IT ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

AND I JUST THINK SHE NEEDS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PROPAGANDA THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP CAMP THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

>> A CONCERN THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE WATCHING THIS ELECTION SEASON IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN ARIZONA, BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST A KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN THE EPICENTER FOR SO MANY ELECTION MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION, FRANKLY, ELECTION DENIALISM CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST ELECTION.

SO, I WONDER, HEADING INTO THIS CYCLE, DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION THAT WILL BE CERTIFIED BY A BOARD OF ELECTORS, REGARDLESS OF WHO THE WINNER IS?

>> I DO.

ARIZONA IS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD AT PUTTING ON ELECTIONS, BUT ELECTION DENIERS ARE VERY GOOD AND BRAVE ABOUT CHALLENGING THEM.

SO -- IN THE LAST SEVERAL ELECTIONS, THERE HAS ABOUT BEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY WRONGDOING IN THE WAY ELECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT IN ARIZONA.

WE'VE GOT VERY COMPETENT ELECTED AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE IN THAT AREA IN ARIZONA, SO, I DON'T HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

BUT I -- AT THE SAME TIME, I ABSOLUTELY WILL GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE STEPPING UP, MAKING THOSE TYPES OF ALLEGATIONS, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST ELECTION, AND ELECTION DENIALISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN ARIZONA.

SO, IT WILL BE A PROBLEM.

BUT THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THERE'S ANY SUBSTANCE TO THAT.

>> YOU'VE SAID BEFORE THAT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS R-ELECTED TO OFFICE, THAT HE MAY NOT LEAVE OFFICE AT THE END OF THAT TERM.

IS THAT BEING HYPERBOLIC?

>> IT WAS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT'S LESS HYPERBOLIC THAN MR. TRUMP, YOU KNOW, HE'S THE ONE WHO SAID, IF YOU VOTE FOR ME THIS ELECTION, YOU WON'T HAVE TO VOTE ANYMORE.

SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE DONALD TRUMP AT HIS WORD.

YOU KNOW, WHEN HE'S LITERALLY SUGGESTING THAT WE ONLY NEED ONE MORE ELECTION AND THEN THE COUNTRY WILL BE GREAT, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

THAT'S HYPERBOLIC.

NOW, IS HE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE CAPABLE OF MAKING IT SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE AFTER THIS ELECTION?

OF COURSE NOT.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO POINT OUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE THAT HE'S USING AND THE FLIPPANT NATURE HE HAS IN DESCRIBING OUR ELECTIONS THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, EITHER.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IF TRUMP WINS, AND IF TRUMP LOSES?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS A BIG QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT -- THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS VERY MUCH ON THE BALLOT, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR.

I -- YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO CONTINUES TO HOLD OUT HOPE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN TURN AROUND, YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS, I'M CERTAINLY HOPING THAT THE TOP OF OUR TICKET IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

I'M HOPING THAT THE MAGA CANDIDATES WHO ARE LOYAL TO MR. TRUMP ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT MAYBE SOME CONTINUED FAILURE WILL MOTIVATE THEM TO MAKE -- TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR A BIGGER TENT.

AND THAT CONTROL OF THE PARTY WILL BE WRESTLED AWAY FROM THE MAGA FOLKS.

BUT IT'S ALSO CLEAR THAT THE TRUMP BASE, YOU KNOW, IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

AND SO, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION THAT EVEN IF MR. TRUMP LOSES, YOU KNOW, FOR AS LONG AS HE WANTS TO EXERT INFLUENCE OVER THE PARTY, HE'S IN CONTROL.

SO, THAT'S -- THAT'S THE DOOMSDAY SCENARIO THAT -- THAT I'M NOT SURE HOW WE RECOVER FROM.

THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TWO STRONG PARTIES AND AS LONG AS DONALD TRUMP IS DICTATING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE.

>> MAYOR OF MESA, ARIZONA, JOHN GILES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.