A pro-Trump restaurant owner who spoke at the 45th president’s Phoenix rally in February of 2020 is running for governor.
Jorge Rivas, owner of Sammy’s Mexican Grill near Tucson, will have an official launch party on September 4, according to his Facebook page.
“The Arizona Governor’s race is soon to have a candidate from Southern Arizona,” the Facebook invitation says. “Please join the Power of Fives and your fellow Republicans at the announcement party for conservative business owner and national figure Jorge Rivas. He and his wife Betty own Sammy’s Mexican Grill in Catalina. Jorge is a passionate man with deep principle [sic] with a servant’s heart.”
Rivas and his wife, Betty, were invited on stage at the rally, where they donned “Latinos love Trump” hats. Jorge Rivas also met with the former president at a Latinos for Trump roundtable discussion.
Trump subsequently tweeted about their restaurant, causing a firestorm for the business owners on social media.
“The food is GREAT at Sammy’s Mexican Grill in Phoenix, Arizona,” Trump said at the time, getting the location of the restaurant slightly wrong. “Congratulations to Betty & Jorge Rivas on doing such a wonderful job. I will try hard to stop by the next time I am in Phoenix. Support Sammy’s!”
The couple addressed the negative comments they received after Trump endorsed their restaurant.
“When we started seeing those comments on Facebook and Google we said there we go it’s starting again,” Jorge Rivas said at the time. “We feel that is [sic] very important for every person to say ‘this is what I stand for’ and in our case we are Republicans we are behind the president,” Jorge said.
Jorge is an immigrant from El Salvador, and Betty is an immigrant from Mexico.
“I came to this country for the freedoms and I’m going to stand by it,” Jorge said.
Rivas joins a crowded primary field of Republican candidates vying to replace outgoing Gov. Doug Ducey (R).
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jorge Rivas” by The Power of Fives.
