Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Primary: Andy Biggs vs. David Schweikert

Arizona’s Republican Party has lost most statewide offices and both U.S. Senate seats over the past decade. Despite a voter registration advantage for Republicans, Democrats hold the governorship, the attorney general’s office, and the top two Senate seats. The 2022 gubernatorial race, led by former news anchor Kari Lake and backed by former President Donald Trump, demonstrated that a hard-line MAGA message can defeat a Republican in a general election. Since 2018, only former Gov. Doug Ducey, a Trump-endorsed candidate, has won a statewide general election. Party leaders therefore view the 2026 primary as a test of whether a moderated or a hard-line approach can restore GOP dominance and unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is regarded as the most vulnerable Democratic governor nationally.

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• Rep. Andy Biggs – Chair of the House Freedom Caucus, long-time Trump ally, endorsed by Trump and the activist group Turning Point Action. Biggs emphasizes a “reach-across-the-aisle” narrative while maintaining a record of opposing government spending, voting against early COVID-19 stimulus, and proposing to eliminate Arizona’s Medicaid program. His support comes from voters who value his direct line to Trump and his reputation as a staunch conservative.

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• Rep. David Schweikert – Veteran of eight congressional victories in a district that mirrors the state’s independent-leaning electorate. Schweikert presents himself as a fiscal-conservative “budget wonk” focused on the federal deficit, deliberately avoiding public photographs with Trump. He argues that uncompromising tactics have cost the party in Arizona.

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• Arizona’s two wealthiest, whitest congressional districts lie in Phoenix’s East Valley, the home bases of both candidates.

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• Schweikert’s district has voted for him in eight elections over the last 16 years.

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• Since 2018, only one Trump-backed statewide candidate—Doug Ducey—has won a general election.

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Republicans view the primary as a crossroads: a moderate-styled campaign could broaden appeal to independents and potentially flip the governor’s office, while a continued hard-line approach risks repeating the 2022 loss. The outcome also influences the GOP’s strategy in other battleground races, including a contested House seat that could affect control of Congress.

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Biggs has framed his candidacy around bipartisan cooperation, asserting he “knows how to reach across the aisle” and urging voters not to view each other as enemies. Schweikert counters that the party’s “uncompromising tactics” are a losing recipe, emphasizing the need to win independents and present a fiscally responsible alternative. Both candidates stress their fiscal conservatism while diverging on tone and alignment with Trump.

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Voters such as retired telecommunications engineer Jeff Clark say a “Trump-sponsored” candidate is untenable, while retired occupational therapist Kathy Babits expressed willingness to support Biggs only if “things don’t change too much.” Some longtime Republicans, like Michael LoBello, argue the party is not aggressive enough in advancing Trump’s priorities, reflecting internal tension over strategy.

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Biggs has not clarified whether he accepts President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, and no polling data are provided to gauge voter preferences between the two GOP contenders. The extent of Trump’s influence on primary voters remains unquantified.

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• “Here’s the bottom line: I know how to reach across the aisle,” — Andy Biggs, U.S. Representative

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• “Biggs lives in a district where if he were a turtle running as a Republican, you’re going to win it,” — Kathleen Dunbar, former Tucson City Council member

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• “I like his style and his policies and his mannerisms,” — Don Dobie, Scottsdale voter supporting Biggs

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• “Once they say they’re Trump-sponsored and everything, I’m sorry, it’s just not going to work,” — Jeff Clark, retired telecommunications engineer

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• “Just stand up for us. They’re forgetting who they represent, and that’s the people.” — Michael LoBello, Scottsdale retiree supporting Biggs

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