Republicans Tread Carefully on Mail Voting Ahead of Midterms

Wed Sep 17 2025 15:09:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As President Trump condemns mail voting, Republican candidates in battleground states Arizona and Nevada must navigate the complexities of voter preferences and party loyalty.

In the face of President Trump's call to eliminate mail voting, Republican candidates in Arizona and Nevada are balancing their allegiance to Trump's stance with the understanding that mail-in ballots have aided their party's performance in recent elections. Local GOP leaders are cautious, with candidates like Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson expressing varied opinions on the issue, highlighting the delicate political landscape as they approach the upcoming midterms.

PHOENIX (AP) — President Trump has been vocal about his opposition to mail voting, creating a dilemma for some of his Republican allies in key battleground states like Arizona and Nevada. Despite Trump's strong condemnation of the practice, GOP candidates are choosing more measured approaches as they prepare for the midterm elections.

Arizona U.S. Representative Andy Biggs, who has Trump's endorsement in the governor’s race, does not advocate for eliminating mail voting completely, even as he questions its integrity post-2020 election. His primary challenger, developer Karrin Taylor Robson, also backed by Trump, has yet to clearly express her stance on this controversial issue.

The tension surrounding mail voting reflects a broader struggle for GOP candidates to align with Trump's hardline views while catering to Republican voters who favor the convenience of mail-in ballots. In Arizona particularly, where Trump endorsed both candidates, the issue is more pronounced.

According to GOP strategist Barrett Marson, mail voting played a significant role in helping Republicans secure victories in Arizona, including Trump's win by a margin of over five percentage points in 2024. Marson noted the effectiveness of Trump’s ballot-chasing campaign during that election cycle, suggesting that a continued reliance on mail voting could benefit the party.

While a majority of voters in Arizona utilize mail-in ballots — about 85% — Trump has consistently criticized the practice, citing concerns over potential fraud, despite a lack of evidence for such claims. Recently, he reiterated his call for curtailing mail-in voting, allowing exceptions only for the severely ill and military personnel stationed away from their voting districts.

Guiding the Future of Voting

In a state with deeply ingrained mail voting traditions, both Robson and Biggs have themselves participated in mail voting for years. Arizona led the way in expanding mail-in voting since the 1990s, but recent conspiracy theories surrounding election integrity have complicated the narrative.

Trump’s rhetoric has led to a polarized discourse on mail voting, which raises complexities for candidates seeking to appeal to a wide range of voters. As Republican candidates grapple with aligning their campaigns with Trump’s messaging, they are compelled to weigh the preferences of their electoral base against the need to maintain party unity.

Parallel Challenges in Nevada

This trend is not isolated to Arizona. In neighboring Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo also faces a similar conundrum. Although he supports Trump, Lombardo has attempted to craft his independent persona while navigating the complexities surrounding mail voting in a state that relies heavily on the practice.

In his latest campaign, Lombardo emphasized the need for common-sense election reforms without directly addressing the issue of mail-in ballots, which has become a hot-button issue among GOP voters and could define the upcoming elections.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the challenge for GOP candidates will be to find a pathway that respects party loyalty while securing votes through effective voter outreach strategies.