Republican Candidates Navigate Mail Voting Dilemma Ahead of Midterms

Mon Oct 20 2025 06:16:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As President Trump calls for an end to mail voting, Republican candidates in Arizona and Nevada grapple with the implications for their campaigns and voter convenience amidst growing skepticism.

While President Trump seeks to eliminate mail voting, Republican candidates in Arizona like Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson are treading carefully, balancing Trump's demands with the needs of their constituents who favor convenient voting options. This predicament reflects a broader struggle within the GOP as they prepare for the midterm elections.

PHOENIX (WSN) — President Trump has declared his intention to abolish mail voting, yet some of his Republican counterparts in key states are adopting a more measured stance. U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, backed by Trump in the Arizona governor race, has spoken critically about mail voting but stops short of advocating for its complete elimination. His challenger, Karrin Taylor Robson, who also has Trump's endorsement, is ambiguous about her position on the issue.

This situation presents a unique challenge for GOP candidates as they head into the critical 2024 midterm elections, where they must balance the loyalty to Trump with the voters’ preference for convenient mail voting options. Arizona's GOP candidates, particularly Biggs and Taylor Robson, are caught in this bind, especially with Trump endorsing both of them.

Republicans Benefit from Mail Voting

Strategist Barrett Marson remarked that mail voting was instrumental in previous GOP victories in Arizona. Despite Trump's loud criticisms, Marson noted that the Republican party had seen success through mail-in voting efforts during the last election cycle.

The ballot-chasing strategies during the 2024 election bore fruit for Republicans, and Trump needs to recognize how beneficial mail voting has been for his campaign in this state, he asserted.

Concerns about Mail Voting Amidst Election Integrity

Trump's campaign rhetoric has long included assertions of mail voting fraud, despite the absence of substantial evidence. Recent polling shows that approximately 85% of Arizonians utilized mail ballots, showcasing the practice's popularity. However, leading into the 2024 elections, skepticism about mail voting has intensified, influenced by election integrity conspiracies.

Arizona's current governor, Katie Hobbs, firmly supports maintaining mail voting systems, while her Republican opponents navigate this contentious issue. Both Taylor Robson and Biggs have historically used mail ballots themselves, complicating their public statements against the practice.

The Nevada Challenge

A similar situation unfolds in neighboring Nevada. Governor Joe Lombardo, while loyal to Trump, has taken a deliberate path that distinguishes him as a moderate. Despite endorsing Trump, he distanced from the rhetoric that questions the legitimacy of past elections, rarely mentioning mail voting in his own reelection campaign.

This ongoing dynamic reflects a broader struggle within the Republican party as candidates attempt to align their strategies with current voter sentiments while remaining faithful to Trump's base.