Republicans Tread Carefully on Mail Voting Amid Trump's Opposition

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:07:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Donald Trump condemns mail voting, Republican candidates in Arizona and Nevada find themselves navigating a delicate balance between loyalty to the former president and the preferences of their constituents.

In the run-up to the midterm elections, Republican candidates in Arizona and Nevada are grappling with Donald Trump's criticism of mail voting. While some GOP figures support its continuation due to its historical efficacy, they face pressure within their party and from the electorate. Candidates Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson offer differing views, highlighting a complex political landscape for Republicans as they seek to align with Trump while catering to voter convenience. Trump's stance could complicate their campaigns as they try to maintain favor with party loyalists and everyday voters.

PHOENIX (AP) — While President Donald Trump has condemned mail voting, Republican candidates in key states like Arizona and Nevada are taking a more cautious stance as they head into the upcoming midterm elections.

In Arizona, U.S. Representative Andy Biggs, supported by Trump in the governor's race, refrains from endorsing a complete ban on mail voting. His competitor, Karrin Taylor Robson, also Trump-backed, has yet to clarify her position on the issue—a balancing act necessary to address Republican voters' preferences for convenience.

This dilemma showcases the unique challenges GOP candidates face as they try to mesh allegiance to Trump's anti-mail voting rhetoric with the reality that this voting method has facilitated Republican victories in past elections. Arizona, where about 85% of voters utilize mail ballots, underscores the critical nature of the issue.

GOP strategist Barrett Marson pointed out that Republican candidates benefited from mail-in voting in recent elections, stating, Trump’s campaign leveraged ballot-chasing effectively in Arizona, necessitating his allies to reevaluate their stance towards mail voting. Despite Trump's claims of fraud related to mail-in ballots, which are unsubstantiated, many Arizona voters appreciate the convenience it provides.

Biggs has publicly encouraged in-person voting but does not advocate eliminating mail voting entirely. In contrast, Robson remains non-committal when questioned about her views but asserts shared values with Trump on restoring trust in elections.

Meanwhile, the political conundrum extends to neighboring Nevada where incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo walks a tightrope between aligning with Trump’s endorsements and differentiating himself as a moderate. He supports election reforms, yet carefully avoids delving deeper into controversial mail voting discussions amidst the looming elections.

As Trump continues his campaign against mail-in voting, Republican candidates face the uphill task of navigating these complexities while trying to secure their campaigns in battleground states where every vote counts.