GOP candidates have their say on LD 14 primary race

By Tom Blodgett
Mail |
X: @sp_blodgett

Four Republican candidates are vying for the party's nomination for Legislative District 14’s three seats in the Arizona Legislature with only one incumbent running. 

The district is primarily anchored in Gilbert, but also has small portions of Chandler and Queen Creek. 

Republican Rep. Laurin Hendrix has filed for reelection to a second consecutive term and third overall. He is the lone incumbent. 

Also running for the two Republican House nominations are Tyler Farnsworth and Jedidah “Jed” Lyons. 

Mylie Biggs is running unopposed for the Republican nomination Senate and will face Democrat Stephanie Walsh in the November general election. 

Independent Newsmedia invited all the candidates to answer a questionnaire. Here are the responses we received. Neither Hendrix nor Biggs responded. 

Tyler Farnsworth 

Primary: House Republican Party 

Age: 40  

Hometown: Gilbert 

Occupation: Marketing professional 

Community involvement: I am a seventh-generation Arizonan, born and raised in Gilbert. I'm a proud graduate of Gilbert High School and ASU. I started a marketing firm here in town, where my wife and I are raising our four children. I have served more than a decade on the board of the Maricopa County Fair and have spent the past 20 years in leadership and volunteer roles with the Boy Scouts, my church, and the Republican Party. I have been an elected precinct committeeman for more than 10 years and served on the LD14 Republican Party board for six. I have volunteered on local, state, and national campaigns for more than 25 years. I love Arizona and the freedoms we enjoy here. 

Jedidiah “Jed” Lyons 

Primary: House Republican Party 

Age: 27 

Hometown: Gilbert 

Occupation: Nonprofit fundraising consultant

Community involvement: I’m the founder of The Dandy Project, a nonprofit that supports families by providing essential baby and child care items like car seats, cribs, diapers, and strollers. We partner with law enforcement, foster care programs, and local organizations to reach families in need. It’s hands-on, practical work focused on strengthening families and removing barriers so parents can care for their children with confidence and stability.

Why did you choose to run? 

Farnsworth: Honestly, I did not plan to run. I have a business I love and a young family. But comfort is not a calling. Arizona is making serious decisions right now on water, schools, and the size of government that will shape the state my kids inherit. Gilbert deserves a representative who lives here, runs a business here, and has roots that go deeper than the last election cycle. So I am stepping up to serve for a period of time. We have a citizen Legislature; we need representation that will support our interests and spend our tax dollars wisely. 

Lyons:I’m running because I believe in citizen-led government and leaders who take ownership of results. I’ve built my career stepping into challenges and finding practical solutions, and Arizona is at a turning point. We need safe communities, secure elections, well equipment law enforcement, and real economic opportunity. I’m stepping forward to bring disciplined, accountable leadership that focuses on execution, not rhetoric, and delivers outcomes people can actually feel in their daily lives while protecting the freedoms that make this state the best in the nation.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing the state heading into the next legislative session? 

Farnsworth: The growth of government is moving too quickly. Arizona's state budget is roughly $50 billion, with about $17 billion of that discretionary, and a lot of it goes to programs that may not need to exist, agencies that duplicate the private sector or bureaucracies that have outlived their purpose. Spending should be measured. Waste, fraud and abuse of tax dollars should be rooted out. Water and education are critical issues, but every issue depends on a Legislature willing to ask whether government should be doing this at all. 

Lyons: Public safety. We must work directly with law enforcement stakeholders to ensure they have the resources, support, and authority needed to protect our communities. That means focusing on practical solutions and making targeted investments where they will have the greatest impact. 

What bills do you plan to introduce to deal with this issue? 

Farnsworth: I will support legislation that forces every state agency to justify what it spends, not assume it gets the same or more every year. That means zero-based budgeting reforms, sunset reviews of advisory commissions and licensing boards that have outlived their purpose, and an administrative overhead cap in education so more of every dollar reaches the classroom. I will also push for real-time transparency on state spending so taxpayers can see where their money goes without filing a public records request. 

Lyons: Law enforcement recruitment in Arizona is at a crisis point, with many agencies reporting staffing shortages of 20% or more. I intend to create career training programs that establish a direct pipeline from high school into law enforcement, offering young people a debt-free path to a stable, well-paying career that equips them with purpose, skills, and a clear path to serve their communities.

Why do you think you are the best candidate for the position? 

Farnsworth: Public service is service, not a career. I'm not a staffer. I'm not somebody's protégé. I built a business and managed significant budgets for Fortune 100 clients. I'll be a proper steward of every tax dollar. My kids walk the streets I grew up on. Individual liberty is the foundation. Smaller government, freer people. That's the fight I'll bring to the Legislature. 

Lyons: I’m the best candidate because I bring a record of execution, not just ideas. In my career, I’ve built organizations, delivered measurable results, and taken on challenges most people avoid. I understand how to move quickly, solve problems, and follow through. I’m not running to be part of the system. I’m running to make it work for the people it serves. My focus is simple: public safety, strong families, and real economic opportunity. 

What are issues you believe could be common ground between the political parties during the next session? 

Farnsworth: Education, water, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. Every Arizonan wants more of every education dollar reaching the classroom, no matter how they vote. Every Arizonan wants reliable water and a secure water future. No one runs for office promising to defend government waste, so audits, sunsets, and spending transparency should not be partisan issues. I will work with anyone serious about results in these areas. 

Lyons: Housing affordability is putting real pressure on Arizona families. Both parties recognize that increasing supply and cutting unnecessary barriers are essential to bringing costs down. I believe career and technical education is part of that solution. By creating clear pathways to good-paying jobs without requiring a four-year degree, we can strengthen the workforce, expand economic opportunity, and help more Arizonans afford to live here. 

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).