In Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, a conservative stronghold, Republican nominee Mark Lamb is facing unexpected headwinds as Latter-day Saint women voters turn away from his scandal-plagued candidacy. Accusations of sexual misconduct and racist remarks, detailed in a multipart Arizona Republic investigation, have alienated voters — including lifelong Republicans — who say his conduct clashes with their faith and values.
Key Facts
- Mark Lamb, the former Pinal County sheriff, is the Republican nominee for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election.
- A multipart Arizona Republic investigation alleges Lamb had multiple affairs, sent sexually explicit messages to a woman outside his marriage, and threatened law enforcement action if she spoke publicly; leaked communications also included a racist joke about Black people.
- Lamb denies the allegations, calling them “lies” at a June event, and he remains endorsed by Donald Trump.
- The district covers the eastern Phoenix suburbs of Maricopa County plus Pinal County; Trump won it by roughly 20 points in the last presidential election, and two of Arizona’s six LDS temples sit inside its boundaries.
- Lifelong Republican Kimberly Tait of Gilbert switched to independent in 2016; LDS voters Holly Anderson and Suzanne Lunt also refuse to back Lamb over questions of character.
- Lamb is favored to win, but Democrat Elizabeth Lee — an infertility nurse branding herself “Nurse Lee” — trails by only three to five points in her campaign’s internal poll; about 195,000 independents are registered in the district.
The Scandal Around Mark Lamb
The Arizona Republic’s investigation alleges that while serving as Pinal County sheriff, Lamb carried on multiple affairs and sent sexually explicit messages to a woman outside his marriage — then threatened to send law enforcement after her if she spoke publicly about it. Leaked communications also showed him making a racist joke about Black people to a border vigilante member.
One of the values the LDS church holds most sacred is chastity, and church leaders reportedly looked into claims about Lamb’s sexual improprieties. Lamb did not respond to NPR’s interview request, but at an Encores Conservative Club event in June he rejected the reporting outright: “I’ve been called a racist. I’ve been called a misogynist … these are lies. Every single bit of it.”
Why Latter-day Saint Women Are Turning Away
Kimberly Tait had been a registered Republican all her life until she switched to independent in 2016, unable to align with the Republican Party under President Trump. “The MAGA movement in and of itself is — it’s just really gross to me,” she said. Now, Lamb’s “God, Family, Freedom” slogan rings hollow to her: “the candidate and all that they represent is the antithesis of that.”
Tait is not alone. Holly Anderson, who votes by personal values rather than party, cited scripture — “In the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall every word be established” — and said it would be hypocritical to support Lamb even though they share a religion. Suzanne Lunt, who left the party after the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack and co-chaired the Republicans for Biden committee in 2024, called Lamb “so untrustworthy on a lot of different levels.”
A Safe Republican Seat Under Pressure
Arizona’s 5th District is rated Solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report, and Representative Andy Biggs is not seeking reelection — he is running for Arizona governor — leaving the seat open. The district has exploded in population as newcomers, many from California, moved in seeking a more conservative home.
Republicans remain the largest group of registered voters, but there are about 195,000 independents — the second most in any Arizona district — making them a potentially decisive bloc. A recent poll found only 39 percent of Arizona voters approve of the president’s job performance, the lowest rating ever recorded in the swing state, which analysts say could further tighten the race.
Elizabeth Lee’s Long-Shot Bid
Democrat Elizabeth Lee, an infertility nurse and political newcomer, is trying to capitalize on the discontent. “The GOP has nominated an extremely flawed candidate with the kind of alleged flaws that people nationally are fed up with,” she said, arguing Lamb lacks policy goals and character.
Arizona State University political science professor Kim Fridkin notes that high gas prices, expensive housing, and the water crisis are hitting voters where they live — conditions that can motivate low-interest voters to turn out. Lee’s internal poll, conducted by Change Research, found her trailing Lamb by three to five points, which her campaign calls within the margin of error.
Conclusion
The contest in Arizona’s 5th District shows how candidate character can unsettle even the safest seats. Mark Lamb remains favored in this conservative stronghold, but the open rejection by Latter-day Saint women — voters who historically anchor the Republican coalition here — has turned a routine race into a genuine test of whether integrity still moves votes. More world news on the 2026 US elections will follow as November approaches.
