GOP Candidate Andy Biggs Defends Past Opposition to 2013 Bill Aimed at Addressing FLDS Child Marriage in Colorado City, Arizona

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), the Republican nominee for Arizona governor, faced questions at the 2026 Gubernatorial Public Safety Policy Forum about his past opposition to a 2013 bill that could have addressed forced child marriage in Colorado City. The legislation, which aimed to strip authority from the local police department—the Colorado City Marshal’s Office—was believed to have been protecting the Fundamentalist LDS (FLDS) movement’s practices. Biggs acknowledged he had heard “bits and pieces” of the situation but stated the federal government was still investigating at the time.

Biggs previously explained his stance in a television interview, saying officials were still gathering information and expressing concern about whether the state had enough authority to intervene. The bill cleared the Arizona House 52-7 but died in the Senate without a vote. At the time, then-Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne supported the measure, according to the Washington Post.

A jury convicted FLDS leader Warren Jeffs in 2011 for sexually assaulting two girls who had been forced into marriage. The Justice Department also sued the two towns served by the marshal’s office in 2012, alleging it functioned as the sect’s “enforcement arm.” Then-state Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, a Republican who sponsored the bill, stated that women and children suffered for three years longer than they should have because of the protection provided to the FLDS leaders.

Survivors and advocates raised similar concerns at an August 20 press conference. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ campaign released a video about Colorado City around the same time, featuring Elisa Wall, who left the FLDS as a young woman. Wall called on Biggs to explain his decision not to support the bill and to protect women and children.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between the FLDS and local authorities, with legal actions and legislative efforts aimed at addressing the community’s practices. The situation underscores the challenges of balancing religious freedom with the protection of vulnerable individuals. Micah 6:8 calls for justice, mercy, and humble service, themes that resonate in the struggle to safeguard those at risk.

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