ICYMI: “Feed ‘Em To the Haitians,” State Senate Candidate Engages in Racist, Disproven Rumors

After schools are evacuated by bomb threats spurred by conspiracy theories, Vince Leach turns up the volume

Tucson, Ariz. — At a recent Tucson campaign event, candidate for state senate in Legislative District 17 Vince Leach boosted unfounded rumors about Haitian people eating pets. The comments elevate recent harmful rumors spread by Republicans about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.  

In a video obtained by the Arizona Mirror, Arizona State Rep. Cory McGarr (R-LD17) discussed a hypothetical where a Democrat, if elected to the office of “dog catcher,” would “screw it up.” An audience member joined in to say, “They’d set all the dogs free… They’d come into your house and take your pet away for no reason.” Leach then added “They would feed them to the Haitians.”

The comments came days after he pushed the racist rumors on Facebook, posting a photo with the caption “If You Want Haitians Eating Cats In Your Town, Vote For Harris.”

Leach’s comments signal his belief that Haitian people eat pets, one based on dangerous, racist, and disproven rumors that have caused chaos in the small town of Springfield, Ohio this fall. These types of comments have been shared by far-right politicians like Kari Lake, Wendy Rogers, Mark Finchem, and even the Arizona GOP.

After narrowly edging out Sen. Justine Wadsack in the July 30th Primary, Leach now faces Democrat John McLean in a highly competitive general election. In 2022, the state senate race in LD 17 was decided by only 2.4 percent of votes cast. This year, it’s shaping up to be even more competitive and could hand Democrats a governing trifecta for the first time in decades.