Arizona's closely watched governor's race is highlighting a significant division among Latter-day Saint women, who are finding themselves on opposing sides of the political divide. The outcome could prove pivotal in a state where past elections have been decided by narrow margins. Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Andy Biggs, an ally of former President Donald Trump, faces Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, whose running mate is former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a church member and a Republican-turned-independent.
The split among Mormon women is rooted in differing interpretations of their faith's teachings and priorities when it comes to political engagement. Some voters cite Biggs' challenge to the 2020 election results and the presence of a Republican-turned-independent on the Democratic ticket as reasons to support Hobbs. Others are drawn to Biggs due to his stance on issues such as parental rights and transgender policies.
Approximately 442,000 Latter-day Saints reside in Arizona, representing about 6% of the state's population. This voting bloc, known for its high turnout, could significantly influence the election, especially given Hobbs' narrow victory of approximately 17,000 votes in 2022.
"We're a huge group, and I definitely think it would be smart to be courting Mormon voters, Mormon women, because we are high propensity turnout voters," said Ronna McDaniel, former Republican National Committee chair and a church member. Stacey Pearson, a Democratic strategist in Arizona, echoed this sentiment, stating, "So go the Mormon wives, go the state, really."
Biggs has defended his actions regarding the 2020 election, framing them as an attempt to raise legitimate questions about election administration. However, some voters see his participation in efforts to overturn the election as a severe character flaw. "You have a lot of people that are character voters, and they view Biggs' participation in the attempts to overthrow the election as a severe lack of character," said Tyler Montague, a Republican strategist.
Montague also suggested that abortion, a traditional issue uniting religious conservatives with Republican candidates, may have diminished influence this year following Arizona voters' approval of a measure protecting abortion access in 2024. "It's not as salient an issue," he noted.
Jane Andersen, Arizona state director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, emphasized that principle and conduct can supersede party loyalty. The organization, which does not endorse candidates, reports a national membership that is roughly 40% Republican, 34% Democratic, and 26% independent. "When we've had statewide candidates on the Republican side that have been such outliers, and … their approach to politicking has been so harsh, so negative, so out of line with how the women conduct themselves in daily life, they've chosen to walk away from that person," Andersen stated, "even if maybe the policies might seem like they align more."
Suzanne Lunt, a 60-year-old teacher from Gilbert, stated that she left the Republican Party after the Jan. 6 insurrection and is now voting for Hobbs and Giles. She prioritizes voting for leaders with integrity who uphold the rule of law and work collaboratively. "Our church leaders have taught us that we should try to vote for people with integrity," Lunt said. “I try to find leaders who I know I can trust, who follow the rule of law, and who are ready to work with all kinds of people and not just toe the party line."
Sylvia Jencks, 51, an independent voter from San Tan Valley, is also supporting Hobbs. "I want somebody who cares about Arizona and not just what the president wants," Jencks said, though she also expressed concern that Democrats are "focusing on the wrong things" instead of bolstering the state's economy.
Conversely, Tatiana Pena, a 43-year-old mother of five and lifelong Republican from South Phoenix, plans to vote for Biggs, prioritizing what she understands as church teachings on defending "family values." "They don't talk politics, but they have given us warnings," Pena said. "One of the biggest warnings is to defend the family unit in society. That to me outweighs everything else." For Pena, this includes restricting transgender women's access to women's restrooms and girls' sports, and opposing gender-transition care for minors.
Tyler Bowyer, Turning Point USA's chief operating officer and a church member from Mesa, agreed, asserting that "trans policies that have been pushed by the left" are a significant motivator for Mormon women. Brittany Romanello, a University of Arkansas professor specializing in Mormon political behavior, views this divergence as evidence that shared faith no longer guarantees a unified vote. "Women are looking at the values, the controversies, the morals …This is not the 2012 election, where people just expected people to vote for Mitt Romney because he's LDS," she observed.