Montenegro, Steve

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State House
District:
29
Political Affiliation:
Republican
Education:
Bachelor's Degree from ASU
Family:
Married to Melissa, two daughters
Religion:
Christian
Biographical Info:

Steve serves as Arizona’s Speaker of the House and has one of Arizona’s most reliably conservative records. After representing the West Valley in the State House and State Senate, Steve returned to the private sector, where he served as Ministry Pastor at Catalyst Church and as Executive Director for Desert Reach, an organization helping inner-city high school students graduate high school and succeed in life. He was also active in efforts to improve the integrity and accuracy of our elections. In 2022 he was asked to run again to provide conservative leadership in the State House, where he helped lead the fight to reform and improve Arizona’s election laws. In 2025 he was elected Speaker of the House and continues to lead Arizona conservatives and oppose Governor Hobbs and her left-wing agenda. He and his wife Melissa will celebrate their 17th Anniversary this year. Melissa is a Charter School Administrator and they have two beautiful daughters (Addy and Emmy).

Statement:

I first ran to provide a solid conservative vote and to help conservatives gain control of the legislature. I ended up being involved in a number of historical efforts. I voted for the largest tax cuts in state history, the Arizona Jobs Bill, and SB1070. I authored Arizona’s transparency laws, the American Civics Act, and the ban on affirmative action. I have a 100% pro-life, pro-family, pro-2nd Amendment, and pro-border security voting record, and won the Hero of the Taxpayer and Friend of the Family awards. I have a long record of supporting Arizona’s veterans/bases and helped bring F-35’s to Luke AFB. I was an Arizona delegate for Donald Trump at the National Convention and made numerous appearances on national TV defending the President against liberals like Jorge Ramos and Chris Cuomo. Today I’m still fired up and eager to defend our progress and push back against left-wing attempts to turn our great state into California. I want to keep Arizona moving in the RIGHT direction!

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation
Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Enacting state-level restrictions on firearm ownership beyond current Arizona law. O
2. Adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in Arizona nondiscrimination statutes. O
3. Expanding state-level enforcement efforts to deter illegal border crossings. S
4. Prohibiting taxpayer funds from directly or indirectly funding abortion services, except where required by federal law. S
5. Maintaining the universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program without limiting eligibility. S
6. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide for individuals seeking end-of-life assistance, regardless of terminal illness. O
7. Allowing licensed counselors to provide therapy to minors seeking to reduce or manage same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, with parental consent. S
8. Increasing criminal penalties for the sale and distribution of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. S
9. Requiring stronger age verification and parental consent protections for minors accessing social media platforms and downloading mobile applications. S
10. Increasing criminal penalties for individuals who purchase sex. S
11. Requiring election procedures that ensure voter identification verification and ballot security. S
12. Enacting a legislative referral that would ask voters to repeal Arizona Proposition 139, the constitutional right to abortion. S
13. Expanding current marijuana laws to increase accessibility to recreational marijuana for adults. O