John,

At his rally in Tulsa last weekend, President Trump boasted about instructing his administration to reduce testing for COVID-19. His team later claimed it was a joke, although he denied that it was. Regardless, it is neither funny nor responsible to encourage a reckless policy that impairs our public health response. What could be more egregious at a time when healthcare workers are working day and night to fight the spread of coronavirus in our communities and save lives?

President Trump held another rally yesterday, this time here in our district, against the advice of his own White House’s top medical advisor. The rally brought in thousands of attendees and risks worsening the scope of this pandemic here in Arizona -- when we are already seeing a surge in cases locally, and our hospitals are increasingly overrun.

The president's irresponsible actions will cost lives and delay the goal of reopening our economy and getting Arizonans back to work. Shamefully, our congressman, David Schweikert, has remained silent about all of it.

At a moment when our community needed leadership that put science and common sense before partisan politics, Schweikert instead attended Trump's rally -- where the vast majority of people did not wear masks and did not practice social distancing. We look to our elected officials in times of crisis to lead by example, and Schweikert has set a deeply irresponsible example.

Prioritizing people's health and safety is the least we should expect out of a public servant. When David Schweikert cannot pass even this simple test, it's long past time for new leadership in AZ-06. Our communities cannot tolerate any more of his failures.

As a doctor, mother, wife, daughter, and human being, I promise you that I will always put the lives of my constituents and the health of our local economy over politics. In the midst of a deadly pandemic, it is simply an issue of life and death.

Sincerely,



Hiral