Former President Donald Trump has announced a “Latter-Day Saints for Trump” coalition, including prominent Utah Republicans, less than a month before the election. The coalition aims to shore up support among a key voting bloc in the western battlegrounds. Utah, which has a large Mormon population, historically votes Republican, but Biden won Arizona in 2020 due in part to a significant defection of LDS voters. The coalition includes Arizona Republicans like Rep. Andy Biggs and Sheriff Mark Lamb, who believe Trump will protect their religious freedom and family values. Trump plans to hold a roundtable with LDS leaders in Arizona. However, some LDS voters have turned away from Trump due to his divisive political style and attacks on immigrants, which conflict with the denomination’s teachings. Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to capitalize on this by creating a “Latter Day Saints for Harris-Walz” coalition and organizing advisory committees in Arizona and Nevada. Other notable figures, like retired Air Force general Robert Oaks and media personality Glenn Beck, have also joined the Trump-LDS coalition. Donald Trump Jr. is reportedly a key figure in launching the coalition, as he has strong relationships with the Mormon community. Overall, the Trump campaign is making efforts to secure support from the LDS community, recognizing their influence in key battleground states.
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Trump introduces coalition of Latter-day Saints to target key voters in battleground states
