Democrats see opportunity as controversial candidates run in red seats : NPR

Key Points:

• Kimberly Tait, a lifelong Republican and member of the LDS church in Arizona's 5th Congressional District, has become disillusioned with the GOP under Trump and is critical of Republican nominee Mark Lamb due to allegations of sexual misconduct and perceived hypocrisy with LDS values.
• Arizona's 5th District is a conservative, predominantly white and religious area with a significant LDS population; while Lamb is favored to win, his scandal-plagued past and questionable adherence to church principles have caused some Mormon voters to reconsider their support.
• Several LDS voters in the district have shifted to independent status, expressing discomfort with the Republican Party's direction and Lamb's candidacy, citing character concerns and a desire for leaders who embody their faith's values.
• Democrat Elizabeth Lee, a nurse and political newcomer, is challenging Lamb in a solidly Republican district by focusing on local issues like high gas and housing prices and appealing to independents dissatisfied with extremist politics.
• Independent voters, who make up a large portion of the district's electorate, are seen as key to the election outcome; recent polling shows Lee narrowing the gap with Lamb, indicating a potentially closer race than expected.