Full Breakdown
Arizona GOP Picks Nominees for Governor and Other Top Offices
7/22/2026, 1:53:32 AM
Core Selections and Party Landscape
Arizona Republicans convened to name their nominees for governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and several U.S. House districts. The governor’s primary pits Rep. Andy Biggs against Rep. David Schweikert, both representing neighboring Phoenix districts. Biggs entered the race with former President Donald Trump’s endorsement and backing from the conservative activist group Turning Point Action, while Schweikert emphasized a low-key, pro-business fiscal conservatism and has deliberately kept distance from Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base.
Background and Intra-Party Dynamics
The nominations occur as the Arizona GOP seeks a path back to statewide power after losing the governorship to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who is viewed as the most endangered Democratic governor nationally. The party remains split between Trump-aligned candidates—exemplified by Biggs, who served as chair of the House Freedom Caucus (2019-2022) and voted against certifying the 2020 Electoral College results—and more moderate figures like Schweikert, whose approach aims to attract swing voters disillusioned with hard-line Trump loyalists such as former gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake.
Key Candidates and Notable Races
- Andy Biggs – veteran of factional GOP battles, former state Senate president, staunch Trump defender.
- David Schweikert – long-time incumbent who has avoided direct confrontation with Trump, positioning himself as a fiscal conservative.
- Jay Feeley – former Arizona Cardinals kicker endorsed by Trump for a House seat, criticized for residing outside the district he seeks to represent.
- Mark Lamb – former Pinal County sheriff endorsed by Trump for a safe Republican congressional seat; faced allegations of sexual misconduct that the county attorney cleared, which Lamb dismissed as “slander and lies.”
- Marlene Galán-Woods – former TV news anchor, now a Democratic congressional candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, highlighting a crossover from Republican to Democratic ranks.
Implications for the 2024 General Election
The primary outcomes set the stage for several high-stakes contests in a state that was pivotal to Trump’s 2020 election-overturn efforts. Schweikert’s 1st District, anchored in affluent Scottsdale, is identified as a top battleground for control of the House majority. Democrats view Biggs as an extremist aligned with Trump, while Republicans hope Schweikert’s moderate profile can win back swing voters. The GOP’s internal divisions and the presence of Trump-endorsed candidates in multiple races suggest a contested path to reclaiming statewide offices in November.
