Grand Canyon Times

State Rep. Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear), the newly elected Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, shared his vision for Arizona’s future in an interview with the Grand Canyon Times. As an immigrant from El Salvador, he brings a deep appreciation for liberty and freedom, values that have shaped his political philosophy and leadership style.

“I think my background has blessed me with the same dedication to grand ideals like freedom and liberty that so many immigrants to this country have,” Montenegro told the Grand Canyon Times. “When you come from someplace without those freedoms or liberties, you never forget how significant they are.”

Montenegro’s journey to the Speakership comes during a moment of historic Republican strength in the Arizona Legislature. Voters expanded the GOP’s majority, which Montenegro attributes to widespread dissatisfaction with federal policies on the economy and border security.

“Across the country, voters were choosing between two very clear and different visions for America,” Montenegro said. “Everybody knows we have problems on the border, but we also had one of the highest inflation rates of any state, and the economic distress caused by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris was felt here more than in most states. So, voters rejected that big government message and the party of big government and rewarded Republicans for our commitment to public safety, border security, and a growing economy that gives everybody a chance to succeed.”

Montenegro underscored the importance of tackling the fentanyl crisis, securing the border, and ensuring law enforcement has the tools necessary to protect Arizona’s communities.

“Protecting the American dream…means public safety which is everything from your front door to the border.”

As a vocal supporter of the state’s school choice program, Montenegro believes in empowering families to select the best educational path for their children, fostering opportunity, innovation, and accountability in schools. He says that the program is essential for leveling the playing field, particularly for underserved communities, and considers it a fundamental issue of liberty.

“We need to keep our schools improving and protect the nation's best school choice program, and we want to do the smaller things that helped to improve the liberty that each Arizonan gets to enjoy, because we all have a right to be free to succeed and to maximize our individual potential,” Montenegro said.

Montenegro acknowledged that some have called this legislative majority the most conservative in Arizona’s history, but he prefers to focus on the outcomes they can achieve. 

“We need to eliminate the intra-party fighting that has plagued us, as it has Republicans in a number of other state legislatures over the last few years,” Montenegro said. “Every Republican in this majority needs to remember that we can only do great things by working together.”

For Montenegro, his personal experiences inform his belief in the importance of standing against left-wing ideologies, which he says lead to economic decline and a loss of liberty. He approaches the fight as something very real, not abstract or theoretical, given his memories of life in El Salvador.

“I take the fight against left-wing ideologies more seriously because I have seen what happens to countries where they prevail, and it inevitably means a loss of liberty for the people, economic distress for the country, and it can ruin a country for decades,” Montenegro said.

Looking ahead, Montenegro remains optimistic about the potential of his Republican colleagues to deliver meaningful results for Arizona.

“We absolutely have the makings of a great, conservative legislature—if we rise above and put the best interests of Arizona first,” Montenegro said. “It is a really great group with a diverse set of backgrounds and skill sets, so I’m excited.”

 Montenegro was first elected to the Arizona House in 2008, representing District 12. He served until 2016 and then served one term in the Arizona Senate for District 13 from 2017 to 2018. In 2022, Montenegro was elected again to the Arizona House, representing District 29.