Concho, AZ

Concho leans solidly Republican, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI) of R+7, meaning the area votes about seven points more conservative than the national average. That’s a noticeable shift from the statewide Arizona PVI of EVEN, which reflects the state’s status as a true battleground. Over the past decade, Concho’s political character has only deepened, driven by an influx of retirees and remote workers from blue states who were specifically seeking a more traditional, low-regulation lifestyle. The local GOP presence is dominant in county-level races, and Democratic candidates rarely compete seriously here, though a few precincts near the more liberal enclave of Show Low (about 30 minutes west) show slightly more competitive numbers.

How it compares

Concho’s R+7 rating puts it in a different political universe from the state as a whole. While Arizona as a whole has trended purple—flipping blue for president in 2020 and electing two Democratic senators in recent cycles—Concho has moved in the opposite direction. The contrast is sharpest when you compare Concho to the Phoenix metro area, especially Maricopa County, which is now a toss-up, or to Tucson, which leans Democratic. Even within the White Mountains region, Concho is more conservative than neighboring communities like Pinetop-Lakeside or the college town of Springerville. The nearest city of any size, Show Low, is also Republican but with a slightly more moderate edge, thanks to a larger service-industry workforce and a handful of local government employees. Concho, by contrast, is overwhelmingly made up of retirees, ranchers, and small business owners who prize limited government and low taxes above nearly everything else.

What this means for residents

For conservative residents, Concho’s political climate means their values are reflected in local governance: the county sheriff’s office takes a strong Second Amendment stance, zoning is minimal, and property taxes are among the lowest in the state. School board meetings tend to be quiet, and there’s little appetite for progressive social or environmental policies. For liberal residents, the reality is more isolating. While no one is hostile, it can be hard to find like-minded neighbors, and local Democratic clubs are small and meet infrequently. National politics rarely come up in casual conversation, but when they do, the assumption is that everyone in the room leans right. That said, the area’s live-and-let-live culture means most people keep their politics to themselves in day-to-day interactions. The bigger practical impact is on policy: if you want expanded public transit, stricter land-use rules, or more funding for social services, you’ll find little traction at the county level.

One cultural distinction worth noting: Concho residents tend to view themselves as distinct from the broader Arizona political scene. There’s a quiet pride in being outside the Phoenix-Tucson axis, and many locals see the state’s purple shift as something that happens “down the hill,” not here. That sentiment shows up in local voting patterns—Concho reliably turns out for conservative candidates in primaries and general elections alike, and voter participation is high. Looking ahead, the area’s political trajectory seems stable. Unless the region sees a major demographic shift—like a wave of younger, more diverse newcomers—Concho will likely remain a Republican stronghold even as the rest of Arizona continues to swing.