Traditionally conservative members of the Church of Latter-day Saints in Arizona are being turned off from former President Donald Trump, in part because of his language around immigrants.
With around 400,000 Mormons in the battleground state — roughly 6 percent of its population — both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have sought to win them over in the hope of securing Arizona’s 11 Electoral College votes, but the key issue of immigration has become divisive.
Tyler Montague, a political consultant with the Public Integrity Alliance and a LDS member, told Newsweek that while many members of the church will vote for Trump, a growing number will either leave their presidential vote blank or swing all the way to Harris.
The Mesa, Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are more than 400,000 Mormons in Arizona, about six percent of the state population. The Mesa, Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are more than 400,000 Mormons in Arizona, about six percent of the state population. Jon G. Fuller / VWPics via AP Images
He pointed to LDS’ immigrant-friendly attitude, highlighted by the missionary programs many young Mormons take part in.
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“A lot of them are in Latin America, a lot in Africa, Asia, so you have people exposed to these other cultures and other languages and they develop understanding and empathy,” Montague said. “So, you have a group that’s sympathetic toward immigrants, legal or otherwise.”
A growing discomfort around Trump’s immigration rhetoric
The Arizonan said that Trump’s rhetoric on immigration – promising mass deportations and characterizing migrants as criminals or those stealing jobs – did not sit well with those who had connections to countries where immigrants were from, or who worked and lived alongside them in their communities.
Campaign signs for Harris and Trump are pictured in a street of Douglas, in Arizona, on October 16, 2024. Immigration is repeatedly cited as a major issue for voters ahead of next month’s presidential election…. Campaign signs for Harris and Trump are pictured in a street of Douglas, in Arizona, on October 16, 2024. Immigration is repeatedly cited as a major issue for voters ahead of next month’s presidential election. But of the seven swing states expected to decide who gets the keys to the White House, only Arizona has a border with Mexico.
OLIVIER TOURON/AFP via Getty Images
The Harris campaign has sought to tread a line between tightening border security, while also avoiding demonizing migrants writ large.
The LDS community in Arizona has voiced its opposition to anti-immigrant legislation in the past, including legislation in 2010 known as the “show me your papers” bill, which the church rejected parts around enforcement.
Some Evangelical Christians have also expressed discomfort around the lack of empathy for refugees and immigrants within the GOP, as Newsweek reported earlier in October, though the voting bloc is still expected to go for Trump by wide margins.
Are Mormons switching to Harris?
Montague told Newsweek that discomfort is going to matter among a group that sees voting as its civic duty, which could swing results in a state which was decided on around 10,000 votes in 2020.
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“It’s not just the immigration issue. The culture of the church, the culture of Christ-like service-style leadership is just in contrast with the braggadocio style of Donald Trump,” Montague said. “That’s off-putting.
“The thing that keeps people in his camp, there are plenty of people that don’t like him, but they’re turned off by the abortion issue, which Kamala Harris is touting.”
Dan Barker, a retired judge who so dislikes US President Donald Trump that he created the group “Arizona Republicans Who Believe In Treating Others With Respect”, poses with a sign to encourage voters to choose… Dan Barker, a retired judge who so dislikes US President Donald Trump that he created the group “Arizona Republicans Who Believe In Treating Others With Respect”, poses with a sign to encourage voters to choose Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, during evening rush hour in Phoenix, Arizona on October 16, 2020.
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Mormon support across the U.S. for Republican candidates has dropped in recent decades, according to the Pew Research Center in 2016, with George W. Bush receiving 80 percent support in 2004, compared to 61 percent for Trump in 2016.
That does not mean those votes are automatically going to the Democratic Party, though, with some feeling issues like abortion leave them with no viable presidential candidate.
Montague pointed to high-profile LDS members who could sway members of the church, including Mitt Romney, the senator from Utah who ran against Barack Obama in 2012, and former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers. Both Romney and Bowers have openly voiced their opposition to Trump.
Arizona Cardinals beat New England Patriots in season-critical win
Sports writers Theo Mackie and Bob McManaman discuss the Cardinals 30-17 win over the Patriots and the long odds on a future playoff spot
The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2024 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers today.
The Cardinals are coming off a 30-17 win against the New England Patriots at home in NFL Week 15.
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The Panthers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 30-14.
The Cardinals are 7-7 on the season. The Panthers are 3-11.
Follow our live updates of the game, which is being played at Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis of the Week 16 NFL game Sunday.
NFL Sunday schedule: TV channels, how to watch NFL Week 16 games on television today
TV channel, time, how to watch Sunday: Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers game today
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Watch Cardinals at Panthers with FUBO (free trial)
Cardinals vs Panthers schedule: What time is NFL Week 16 game?
The game is on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 11 a.m. MST, 1 p.m. ET.
NFL Week 16 schedule: TV channels, how to watch, how to stream games this week
Cardinals vs Panthers TV: What channel is NFL Week 16 game on?
The game can be seen on FOX.
NFL power rankings Week 16: Where are Cardinals, Panthers now?
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Cardinals vs Panthers streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 16 game on livestream?
Streaming options for the Cardinals at Panthers game include FUBO and other streaming services that carry FOX.
NFL playoff picture Week 16: Where are Panthers, Cardinals now?
Cardinals vs Panthers announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 16 game?
Chris Myers (play-by-play) and Mark Schlereth (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Panthers Week 16 NFL game.
NFL Week 16 announcers: Television broadcasters, announcing crews for NFL Week 16 schedule
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Cardinals vs Panthers game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 16?
The Cardinals are a four-point favorite over the Panthers in NFL Week 16 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Arizona is -225 on the moneyline, while Carolina is +180.
The over/under (point total) is set at 47 points.
NFL Week 16 odds: Who is favored in this week’s games?
Pregame reading for Cardinals at Panthers game today
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A self-described Arizona social media “villain” was arrested after he filmed himself allegedly spraying bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart as he boasted to police about his prank videos.
Charles Smith, 27, is accused of grabbing a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer and unleashing the pesticide on a series of perishable items in the Mesa, Ariz. megastore around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
In the now-deleted video, the influencer filmed himself wearing a black hoodie and pink bandana while spraying the toxin on bananas, acorn squash, potatoes, lemons, green apples and Roma tomatoes at the store — located in a neighborhood southeast of Phoenix.
Charles Smith was accused of spraying a bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
Police claim the TikTokker, who goes by the username WolfieKahletti, intentionally went to the store to film pranks for his channel.
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Smith identifies as an online “troll,” according to court documents viewed by Az Family. He has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.
The troublemaker allegedly told police that he makes between $6,000 – $10,000 per month filming his provocative prank videos.
”I think social media has got people doing crazy things out here,” Walmart shopper Xavier Griego told the outlet. “It’s unfortunate that somebody would mess up their whole life, potentially, for something on social media for views.”
Smith voluntarily turned himself over to police on Dec. 21.
The prankster reportedly posted the video on his TikTok page with over 300K followers. ImTheMainCharacter/RedditWalmart claimed it removed the contaminated items and cleaned the areas that were hit. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
He faces charges of introducing poison (a felony) as well as three misdemeanors that include criminal damage, endangerment and theft.
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A spokesperson from Walmart told AZ Family that store employees removed the directly impacted products and cleaned the affected areas of the store.
It’s not clear if any customers were injured from eating the contaminated items.
Smith voluntarily turned himself over to the police on Dec. 21. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the Mesa Police Department said in a statement.
Other videos posted online by Smith include the posts of him seemingly mixing in bacon and eggs in a stranger’s load at the laundromat as well as locking people inside a different grocery store.
Smith is charged with a felony and three misdemeanors. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
The spray is “harmful if swallowed” and “prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals” per HotShot’s website.
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Suspects convicted of tampering with consumer products face up to 5 to 20 years in prison.
In 2022, an Arizona man was sentenced to 10 years of probation after being convicted of adding harmful chemicals to food at several retail stores in the Phoenix area.
David Lohr was ordered to pay restitution to a grocery chain for $390.42 and ordered to participate in a mental health evaluation and any additional recommended treatment.
There were no reported injuries or illnesses associated with the tampered items during the 2018 stunt, prosecutors said.
Lohr was accused of tampering with products at stores in California one year later and sentenced to a 51-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release with mental health services.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.
The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.
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The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.
Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.
Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.
Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.
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