Best Mom InMaricopa winners honored at Ace Hardware

By Elias Weiss
May 11, 2026

Mompetition

The votes are in, and three Maricopa moms have new bragging rights.

Best Mom InMaricopa, an annual Mother’s Day tradition dating back to 2012, returned this year with 46 nominated moms and more than 750 votes cast.

The winners were presented Saturday morning at Karsten’s Maricopa Ace Hardware, 21542 N. John Wayne Parkway.

This year’s Best Moms were Misty McKenzie (Ace Hardware’s winner), Maria Johnson (InMaricopa’s winner) and Jeanette Smith (People’s Choice winner), each nominated by family members who described them as selfless, loving and tireless in their devotion to their children and families.

McKenzie, who received three nominations, was described as a single mother working full time while pursuing a college degree and raising a loving household.

“She’s my mama and I can say with 1000% certainty that she is always there for us whether she’s busy or not,” Lexie McKenzie wrote in her nomination. “She’s always there to talk and she does kind acts of service for everyone around her without having to be asked.”

Bailey McKenzie called her “the best mom ever,” writing that Misty, a single mother of four, has made her home a safe space for her family while working hard to support her children’s dreams.

Monique Mullenaux wrote that Misty teaches her children important values, works full time and shows up every day with unconditional love.

“Misty is my hero in this way,” Mullenaux wrote. “She accepts what is while working toward her beautiful goals and visions for her life and family’s benefit.”

Johnson was nominated by Maryah Johnson, who wrote that her mother raised five children as a single mother and always put them first.

“She has given everything to raise me and my four siblings right as a single mother,” Maryah Johnson wrote. “Everyday for the past 26 years she has made us her priority.”

Her nomination described years of sacrifice, including leaving an abusive relationship, struggling to pay bills and building her own business so she could stay home with her children.

“My mom deserves everything in this world and she definitely deserves recognition for all the sacrifices she made for us to have a normal and great life,” Johnson wrote. “She inspires me everyday to work hard for things I want and not take for granted the life she provided for me.”

Smith, nominated by her family, was described as an “INCREDIBLE mom of 3” whose kindness and warmth extend beyond her own children.

“She has a warmth of no judgment and kindness that is shown through the acts of service she preforms for everybody,” the nomination read. “She is the mom that would drive her kids plus anybody else that can fit in the car.”

Her family described her as a mother, friend and mentor who helps other moms when they are struggling and always puts her children first.

Each winner received a prize selected by Ace Hardware. The prizes were a Craftsman V20 steel cordless pruner and Craftsman V20 3-speed misting fan, a YETI Roadie 32 Big Sky Blue 50 roller cooler and a Living Accents steel round wood fire pit.

People's Choice winner Jeanette Smith stands with her family at the Best Mom 2026 Awards Ceremony in Karsten's Ace Hardware on May 9, 2026. [Ryan Tafoya]

Elias Weiss

Elias Weiss earned his journalism degree from the University of Arkansas and began reporting for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He later led the Chatham Star-Tribune to a 2019 Best Weekly Newspaper award before working as an investigative reporter for Phoenix New Times and The Daily Beast. In 2023, he became managing editor at InMaricopa, winning top state awards for investigative and narrative reporting. In 2024, he took over as Editorial Director. Elias often discusses politics on KFNX. He currently works with Fox News