AZ-01 Republican nominee?
$114.4K
JUL 22, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age46 years old (Jun 28, 1980)
GenderFemale
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LocationArizona
BackgroundPolitician
EducationArizona State University (W. P. Carey School of Business) — B.S./B.A. Business Administration (2003)
Notable personal detailsMichelle Ugenti-Rita is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives (2011–2019) and the Arizona State Senate (2019–2023), representing legislative districts based in Scottsdale. She earned a business administration degree from Arizona State University and previously worked in real estate and small business. She has also run for statewide and local offices in Arizona, including Secretary of State (2022) and Scottsdale City Council (2026).
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
The candidate has supported reducing or limiting state taxes and tax burdens, sponsoring legislation to limit taxation of digital goods and to change vehicle license tax calculations to lower fees, and she has advocated for income tax rate reductions and other taxpayer relief measures. Her proposals emphasize narrowing the state’s taxing authority and providing targeted tax relief rather than expanding taxes or new revenue.
Healthcare
Has called for reforming healthcare and highlights work on women’s health; has sponsored state bills on topics including health-care liens, pharmacists’ dispensing authority for hormonal contraceptives, and a mental-health omnibus. Public statements and sponsored legislation show activity on healthcare but do not present a clear position for or against major federal reforms like Medicare for All or repeal of the ACA.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger enforcement-focused approaches to immigration and opposes state-level benefits for people living in the U.S. without authorization; views immigration as primarily a federal responsibility and has argued against in-state tuition for undocumented students. She has framed the issue in terms of managing the border and limiting state-level benefits for those without legal status.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Michelle Ugenti-Rita is a pro-life Republican who has opposed Roe v. Wade and taken positions aligned with restrictions on abortion. Her ratings from conservative and anti-abortion groups are consistently high, and media coverage describes her as opposing abortion access.
Climate & Energy
The candidate holds positions aligned with conservative energy policy, showing low ratings from environmental organizations and high ratings from conservative groups. Her public record indicates opposition to aggressive climate regulations and greater alignment with market‑oriented or fossil‑fuel‑friendly energy policies. Specific policy details are limited in the cited sources but the ratings indicate a generally conservative stance on climate and energy issues.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strong Second Amendment rights and receives high pro-gun ratings from advocacy groups; favors policies aligned with gun-rights organizations while opposing many new gun restrictions.
News
Michelle Ugenti-Rita is in the news because Arizona is holding primary elections, and she is a candidate in that contest. The latest reporting focuses on the statewide vote and the races being decided, with results expected later in the night. There are no other specific developments about her in the provided summaries.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Michelle Ugenti-Rita for AZ-01 Republican nominee?
NICO Republican
Public endorsement
NICO Republican listed Michelle Ugenti-Rita on its endorsements page.
SCAMDD (Scottsdale Citizens Against Mass Desert Development)
Public endorsement
SCAMDD (Scottsdale Citizens Against Mass Desert Development) endorsed Michelle Ugenti-Rita.
Police Officers of Scottsdale, Ariz. Association (POSA)
Advocacy group
Police Officers of Scottsdale, Ariz. Association endorsed Michelle Ugenti-Rita.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising