State lawmakers endorse Litchfield Park Republican as write-in candidate

Litchfield Park resident and lifelong Republican, James Taylor, will run as a write-in candidate for State House in Legislative District 29 to defend the GOP seat currently held by state Rep. Austin Smith.

Smith announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from his state congressional race amid allegations he forged signatures in a re-election petition for Legislative District 29 .

The district, in the far West Valley, includes portions of Glendale, El Mirage, Surprise, Litchfield Park, Goodyear and Morristown.

“I am humbled at the opportunity and take this responsibility seriously,” Taylor said. “With our party holding just a one-seat majority in the State House, LD29 Republicans need to focus on getting the job done between now and the July 30 ^th Primary, and that means making sure our voters know that they need to vote for a write-in candidate in order to keep our district in the right hands.  I’m all in to do what is needed.”

Republican state Sen. Janae Shamp and state Rep. Steve Montenegro both encouraged Taylor to run and have endorsed him and his campaign.

“James Taylor is a conservative with the kind of backbone we need more of in the Legislature,” Shamp said in a release. “He loves his state and country, he will give this campaign his all, and I can’t wait to start knocking doors with him.”

“James Taylor knows what needs to be done when it comes to border security, public safety, protecting our kids, improving our economy, and pushing back against the Biden and Hobbs administrations,” Montenegro said in a release.  “I’m grateful he is running and look forward to running with him as part of the Shamp, Montenegro & Taylor team!”

Taylor has lived in Arizona for decades and held management positions at the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant for 30 years. Prior to that, he worked for Shell Oil in Houston for 8 years. He and his wife Renee are very involved in Republican and conservative causes, according to a press release. Taylor’s extended family all live in the West Valley.

Taylor will be releasing additional endorsements in the immediate future.