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Latter-day Saint Voters in Arizona

Julie Spilsbury
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Julie Spilsbury

Arizona is one of the swing states that candidates are honing in on this year. 10,457 — that’s how many votes went to Joe Biden in Arizona in 2020, close enough to swing the state blue. So, of course, both of the 2024 presidential campaigns set up camp in Arizona weeks ago. Their target audience? Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Arizona has a large LDS population — over 440 thousand members. Mormons have, historically, been a reliable Republican vote. But many now cite Trump’s rhetoric, extremism and disdain for immigrants among reasons for changing their minds. Some Arizona Republicans, many of them Latter-day Saints, have organized political action committees like Republicans for Harris and put up yard signs that compete with Trump signs, exposing disagreements among a group previously known for getting along. We’ll take a look at what it means to be an LDS voter these days in Arizona, and we’ll talk to a group of local LDS women working to reach out to voters, organize watch parties and moderate community conversations in this divided time.

GUESTS –

Julie Spilsbury | City of Mesa Council Member and co-chair of Haley Voters for Arizona.

Jeremy Spilsbury | Working on his master’s degree in special education. At Arizona State University.

Dr. Quin Monson | Associate professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University.

Dr. Brittany Romanello | Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow and Faculty Associate at Arizona State University Anthropology

Dawn Giles | Board member for Arizona Republicans for Harris and co-chair of Haley Voters for Harris.

Jane Andersen | Protecting democracy specialist for Mormon Women for Ethical Government for Arizona state.

Amy Wudel | Team leader for the PAC Arizona Republicans Who Believe In Treating Others With Respect.

Airdate: Thur., Oct. 31, 2024 at 9 a.m. and Sat. Nov. 2, 2024 at 11a.m.

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