Local Phoenix residents gathered at Bliss/reBar Tuesday night to watch the Democratic Party presidential debate.
The Democratic Party of Arizona reached out to local Phoenix businesses to see if any businesses would be willing to lend their space for the debate watch party.
Bliss/reBAR responded, allowing the organization to use their space for the event. Bliss/reBAR is an urban restaurant and bar located in the heart of Roosevelt Row historic district.
The restaurant and bar doesn’t charge a rental fee and is able to create a private atmosphere with closed doors which attracts a lot of people, Bliss/reBAR Manager Mark Mazzie said.
Mazzie said the downtown location plays a part in why the Arizona Democratic Party chose Bliss/reBAR, adding that the space is easy for a collective group to come together.
The location of Bliss/reBAR is surrounded by apartment complexes and high-rises, bringing in local residents. Mazzie said he even noticed regulars who frequent the restaurant and bar.
Director of Communications for the Arizona Democratic Party Matt Grodsky described why downtown Phoenix is an attractive location to have a watch party event.
“Downtown Phoenix is thriving under Democratic leadership such as Mayor Gallego,” Grodsky said.
He said the Arizona Democratic party is interested in supporting local businesses and is always on the lookout for spaces that attendees don’t have to travel far to get to.
Phoenix residents began to fill the space at 5:00 p.m., the start time of the debate. Those in attendance paid attention to the debate even through applause and silence.
“People validate each other’s views and thoughts,” said Van Perez, a Phoenix resident in attendance.
Although Perez prefers to be alone when engaging with politics, she finds local watch parties beneficial.
She said spaces and events like these are help to bring marginalized people together, adding that she believes people are often more comfortable in these types of settings.
Another Phoenix resident in attendance, Gheorghe Catana, said he stumbled upon the event on Google while searching for local watch party events.
Catana said was watching the debate hoping to see how the candidates are going to work to impact the American public.
While watching the debate, he noted he was excited to see them taking presidential candidate Andrew Yang more seriously.
“Everything he says makes a mathematical, social and psychological sense that works at an advantage for small, real American people. How could I not support him?” Catana said.
Catana said he is interested in how the debates go from here and how candidates work to support working Americans.
The debate itself included 12 potential presidential candidates for 2020.
Major themes of the night included the impeachment of President Trump, healthcare, employment, taxation and the American military withdrawal from Syria.
Candidates who are not usually up against each other were going head to head on policy-driven issues and began to set themselves apart in their viewpoints.
Still in the early stages of the campaign, Perez said it is too early to tell anything about which candidate she prefers since “there are too many candidates.”
The next Democratic debate will be held in Atlanta on November 20.
Contact the reporter at asalaspo@asu.edu.
