As coronavirus cases continue to skyrocket across the country, Democrats in the battlegrounds called out Donald Trump’s chaotic response to the pandemic and highlighted the devastating impacts on vulnerable communities, health care workers, and working families. Read more below:

In Arizona:

KYMA: Arizona Frontline Workers Seek More Action From Trump Administration. “Ahead of Vice President Pence’s visit to Arizona Wednesday, Arizona Democratic leaders and frontline workers held a conference to discuss what they say is the Trump Administration’s failed response to COVID-19. […] State Rep. Randy Friese mentioned the need for more testing, medical staff, and supplies in Arizona. Representative Friese is a trauma physician and has been on the frontlines since the pandemic began. He continues to claim that Arizona is ground zero for the President’s failures in regards to his response to the pandemic.”

Arizona Republic: “Shortly before Pence stepped off the plane, Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Felecia Rotellini, Democratic lawmakers, and a Tucson physician criticized Trump, Pence and Ducey for downplaying the gravity of the coronavirus risks. Rotellini called Pence’s trip a ‘photo op.’”

Cronkite News: “Earlier Wednesday, Arizona Democrats voiced criticism that Pence’s trip was motivated by political gain more than health needs of the state. ‘We don’t need presidential visits or vice president visits or campaign visits. We need testing, we need staff and we need supplies,’ said state Rep. Randy Friese, D-Tucson, who works as an emergency physician.”

Arizona State Representative and Doctor Randy Friese on ABC 15: “Trump has wasted months ignoring the warning signs from experts, Trump has ignored the science, and downplayed this pandemic. When it mattered most, Trump has failed to take action. Arizona is at the epicenter of one of the worst public health crises in history.”

In Florida:

Florida Politics: Donna Shalala, Democratic leaders rip Trump administration in advance of Mike Pence’s Florida visit. “South Florida Democratic leaders blasted President Donald Trump’s administration for its handling of the coronavirus epidemic Thursday morning in advance of a visit by Vice President Mike Pence. The Vice President will be in Tampa on Thursday to meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Terrie Rizzo, the Florida Democratic Party Chair, said it’s important to hold the administration accountable.”

Lakeland Ledger: Democrats aim Polk ad blitz at Pence on Ledger’s website. “Vice President Mike Pence canceled a scheduled Thursday visit to Lake Wales, but the Democratic National Committee engineered a message for him in Polk County anyway. The committee arranged a ‘homepage takeover’ of The Ledger’s website, reserving advertising space for a 24-hour period. The blitz will use all available ad positions, including multiple banner ads, said Cassidy Geoghegan, press secretary for the DNC in battleground states.”

Florida Politics: Democratic ad spotlights ‘exploding’ coronavirus, President Trump’s China capitulation. “The ‘DNC War Room,’ in an email to media Tuesday, outlined the narrative: ‘The Trump campaign is running ads about being tough on China, but Trump’s failure to promptly address coronavirus, lest he upset China, is maybe the most disastrous example of a President getting played by a foreign country, leading to a total catastrophe at home.’”

Associated Press: Florida reports 10,000 coronavirus cases for 1st time. “Earlier Thursday, Florida Democrats held a conference call criticizing the coronavirus response from the White House and DeSantis as inadequate and needlessly endangering lives by opening up too soon and declining to mandate safety measures such as wearing of masks.”

In Pennsylvania:

PA Dems Chair Nancy Patton Mills on CBS 21: “Donald Trump still has not delivered on a national testing strategy, he regularly mocks the use of masks and continues to push states around the country to re-open before it’s safe to do so.”

In Texas: 

CBS Dallas: “On Friday, the Texas Democratic Party held a virtual news conference featuring various North Texas elected leaders who criticized the President’s, Vice President’s, and Governor Abbott’s response to the pandemic. U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas said, ‘Mr. Vice President, we need your attention in this area.’ […] She also complained that the state does not have enough tests for residents in under-served communities.”

Dallas Morning News: “During a conference call staged by the Texas Democratic Party Friday, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, appealed to Pence to promote more testing, the wearing of masks to mitigate spread and attention to businesses that are suffering. ‘We need your attention Mr. Vice President,’ she said. ‘We are a hotspot.’”

In Wisconsin:

WIZM: Former La Crosse County board chair Johnson slams GOP on coronavirus response. “In an on-line message Wednesday, the state Democratic Party featured Tara Johnson criticizing state and federal Republican leaders for downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19. Johnson pointed to the large increase in La Crosse County cases during June to argue that stay-at-home orders were lifted prematurely.”