Arizona Votes: Brianna Westbrook

Brianna Westbrook outside the Maricopa County Recorders Office

Photo by Kassandra Alvarez

By Kassandra Alvarez

November 3, 2020

Brianna Westbrook is optimistic that her vote will be part of a larger movement to turn Arizona blue. She has been working on getting the vote out in this election and to advocate to elect progressive candidates.

“Our voice is powerful,” said Brianna. “When people collectively come together, we can make a change.”

She pointed specifically to the youth vote as a major impact in this election. So far, nearly 200,000 voters under 24 have cast their ballots for the Nov. 3 election.

For Brianna, a transgender rights activist and the vice-chair and executive committee member of the Arizona Democratic Party, political advocacy means working towards a full progressive platform.

“It’s ensuring that every person has health care, it’s about transitioning to a greener economy, raising the federal minimum wage, free tuition,” said Brianna. “It’s about choosing a candidate we can move through collective action.”

Brianna hopes voters elect a Maricopa County Attorney who will prosecute police officers who violate the law and implement reforms that will reflect the demands of the Black Lives Matter movement, which in turn will bring some peace to families who have been negatively impacted by the actions of law enforcement.

Her vote represents the platform she connects with, as her own upbringing made her question she could be active in politics. To people not sure of voting, Brianna shared she found her voice in her 20s and invites others to vote and use their voice to make an impact at all levels.