Arizona Governor Race
Rep. Andy Biggs Secures Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Nomination, Will Face Democrat Katie Hobbs in November
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Rep. Andy Biggs won Arizona's Republican gubernatorial primary on July 21, defeating three opponents to earn the right to challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November, according to 12 News. The Associated Press projected Biggs as the winner after he took a commanding lead in the first ballot count, per The Gateway Pundit.
Biggs, a six-term congressman and former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, beat fellow Rep. David Schweikert and two businessmen, Ken Miceli and Scott Neely. He held an election night party in Scottsdale as supporters gathered to watch the results, AZ Central reported.
Biggs Rises From Freedom Caucus to Governor's Race
Biggs has served in Congress since 2017 and previously led the Arizona Senate as its president. He chaired the House Freedom Caucus, the most conservative bloc in the House. That track record made him the clear MAGA pick in the race, according to 12 News.
Biggs also backed President Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Courts, state officials, and Trump's own administration found no evidence of widespread fraud. Still, that stance helped Biggs lock up support from Arizona's MAGA base heading into the primary.
Hobbs Holds Early Lead in November Polling
Biggs now faces an uphill battle in the general election. A Noble Predictive Insights poll gave Gov. Hobbs a 41% to 37% lead over Biggs, according to Newsweek. That is a 4-point gap, but the race is still months away and Arizona is a true battleground state.
Republicans have not held the Arizona governor's office since Doug Ducey left in January 2023. Hobbs beat Kari Lake by less than 1 percentage point in 2022. The GOP sees 2026 as a chance to take it back, but Biggs will need to win over voters beyond his conservative base, Newsweek noted.
Primary Win Exposes Deep GOP Splits in Arizona
The primary laid bare a sharp divide inside Arizona's Republican Party. Biggs represents the MAGA wing, while Schweikert appealed more to traditional conservatives. The fact that two sitting Republican congressmen ran against each other showed just how fractured the state party has become.
Trump endorsed Biggs, giving him a major boost with the state's Republican base, per The Gateway Pundit. That backing helped Biggs pull ahead early and hold his lead through the night. Whether that coalition is broad enough to defeat Hobbs in November remains the central question for Arizona Republicans.
What to Watch as the General Election Takes Shape
Arizona has 11 electoral votes and has swung between parties in recent years. Democrats have won the last two governor's races and both U.S. Senate seats. Biggs will need to unite the GOP and appeal to independents, who make up a large share of Arizona voters.
Hobbs enters the general with a cash advantage and higher name recognition. Her campaign has not yet responded publicly to Biggs' win. The November election will be one of the most closely watched governor's races in the country, with both parties viewing Arizona as a must-win state.
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