For years now, Democrats have hoped to flip the diversifying state of Arizona. In 2016, the Hillary Clinton campaign even attempted to flip the state, opening 32 offices, campaigning with Michelle Obama, and spending millions on advertising. Ultimately, the state still went to Donald Trump. However, Trump only won by 3.57 points, a far cry from Mitt Romney’s nine-point victory in 2012. Now, just two years later, it seems that Democrats can finally flip not one but two major statewide seats in Arizona. Polling indicates that they will almost certainly take retiring Republican Jeff Flake’s U.S. Senate seat with conservative Democratic candidate Kyrsten Sinema, while they have a real shot of unseating incumbent Republican Governor Doug Ducey. But claiming the governorship will be much easier than winning the open Senate seat, as it is notoriously difficult to take down incumbent governors. But polls show that one Democratic candidate is uniquely suited to defeat Ducey: David Garcia.

Garcia currently leads both of his primary opponents, State Senator Steve Farley and social justice activist Kelly Fryer, by double digits in the polls. Garcia is running an education-first campaign, emphasizing his background as Associate Superintendent of the Arizona Department of Education and a professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. While he has always been a strong proponent of public education, his platform is particularly relevant this year, as Arizona public teachers held a mass strike starting in April in opposition to low wages and funding cuts. The striking teachers earned a 19% pay increase, but without genuine support from the legislature and governor, they will be doomed to the same fight for the foreseeable future.

David Garcia wants to change that. He joined us on the podcast to discuss his vision for public education, his perspective on the #AbolishICE movement as a candidate in a border state, and how he would handle disruptive protest as governor. Listen on iTunes or in your browser below: