Presidential Election, 5 November 2024

Heatwave in Arizona & Nevada, June 2024   

In June 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada experienced record-high temperatures due to a heatwave spanning across the Southwest United States (Sonner, 2024). Moreover, meteorologists predicted the heatwave would lead to temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius to occur significantly earlier than usual in the region as seen in Phoenix, Arizona, where temperatures reached 46C in early June. The National Weather Service released a heat warning affecting over 20 million residents in the Phoenix area (Sonner, 2024). By 21 June 2024 there had been 6 heat-related deaths in Pheonix (Le Monde, 2024). In California’s Death Vally, temperatures are expected to reach 49C during the heatwave (Le Monde, 2024). Known for having the hottest air temperature recorded on earth, California Death Vally has an average temperature of 44C during June and 47C in July (Lam, 2023; NOAA, n.d.).  

Experts claim the heatwave is a result of human-induced climate change driven by planet-warming emissions (Brosnan, 2024). According to the World Weather Attribution, the hottest days in June in the Southwest region were 1.4C warmer than usual due to climate change (Brosnan, 2024; WWA, 2024).  

Impact on electoral processes  

On 07 June 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, during a rally for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, 11 participants were hospitalized due to extreme heat. By 5 pm, when Trump took the stage, temperatures in Phoenix reached 111F (43C). Leading up to the rally speech, supporters waited in lines to go through security to enter the event (Vardy, Morris, & Faguy, 2024). The event was so crowded that some were not able to enter the building, exposing them to the sun and high temperatures and increasing the risk of heat stroke. During the hours leading up to the rally, several attendees were treated for heat-related complications. In total, 97 people used cooling tents outside of the event, 24 people received medical care and 6 were rushed to the hospital (Vardy, Morris, & Faguy, 2024). Following the event, 11 people were hospitalized from heat exhaustion (Gold, 2024; Vardy, Morris, & Faguy, 2024).  

Following the rally in Phoenix, the Trump Campaign traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, where temperatures reached over 103 F (39C) (Gold, 2024; Bowden, 2024). During the Las Vegas rally, on 09 June 2024, 6 people were hospitalized due to heat-related illness (Crowley & Robinson, 2024). 

Changes in procedures   

Between the rally in Pheonix, Arizona and the rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Trump campaign adopted measures to mitigate heat related issues (Vardy, Morris & Faguy, 2024). At the Las Vegas Rally, the Trump campaign provided twice as many EMS staff on site than at the Pheonix Rally. Additionally, the campaign provided over 38,000 bottles of water and a cooling tent for supporters.