Full Breakdown
Andy Biggs Wins Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Primary, Setting Up 2026 Face-off with Gov. Katie Hobbs
7/23/2026, 2:00:56 AM
Biggs Secures the Republican Nomination
Rep. Andy Biggs, a five-term congressman from outside Phoenix and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, emerged as the winner of the Arizona Republican primary for governor. He defeated fellow Rep. David Schweikert and a slate of business-focused challengers, positioning himself against Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the November 2026 general election. Biggs’s campaign leaned heavily on former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, while also emphasizing a message of bipartisan cooperation to appeal to the state’s sizable independent electorate.
Political Context in Arizona
Arizona, once a reliable Republican stronghold, has become a competitive battleground. The state voted for Trump by five points in 2024, yet Democrats now hold both U.S. Senate seats, the attorney general’s office, and the secretary of state’s office. Gov. Hobbs, who won her 2022 race by less than one percentage point, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and has amassed a substantial war chest for the upcoming contest. Republicans view the race as a test of their prospects in a midterm cycle that could be “potentially bruising,” according to political observers.
Campaign Dynamics and Candidate Profiles
- Andy Biggs – Republican; former Freedom Caucus chair; endorsed by Trump; focuses on border security, tax cuts, and claims of bipartisan legislative work.
- Katie Hobbs – Democratic incumbent governor; emphasizes her record and warns that Biggs’s past attempts to overturn the 2020 election make him “too extreme” for Arizona voters.
Biggs’s primary debate performance highlighted his relationship with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, while downplaying his Trump endorsement. Hobbs’s campaign has labeled him “basement Biggs” for maintaining a low profile during the primary and is actively running ads to define his positions on abortion and election integrity.
Official Statements & Campaign Positions
Hobbs’s campaign has repeatedly framed Biggs as an extremist, warning voters of his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his anti-abortion stance.
Verbatim Quote
“I may be conservative, but I’ve also shown that even when you’re conservative, if you look to collaborate, you can find points and ways to collaborate with even people who fundamentally disagree with you on other things,” — Rep. Andy Biggs, a former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus
