Andy Biggs, a hard-right congressman backed by Donald Trump, secured the Republican nomination for Arizona governor on Tuesday, defeating fellow congressman David Schweikert in a primary that drew national attention. Biggs, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus who played a central role in efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Arizona, appealed to the party’s conservative base. Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who flipped the seat in 2022, ran unopposed and will face Biggs in November.
The gubernatorial contest is expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country, according to observers, given Arizona’s significance as a swing state and its history as a focal point for election-related disputes following 2020. In the race for secretary of state, Alex Kolodin, a Republican state representative and attorney who participated in failed legal efforts to overturn Arizona’s 2020 and 2022 election results, won his primary. He will face Democrat Adrian Fontes in November. Fontes has positioned himself as an opponent of what he calls election denialism while overseeing contests in a closely watched battleground.
Trump celebrated the primary results on social media, declaring a “complete sweep” and stating that “MAGA candidates won everything.” Trump also claimed that “Arizona is becoming a Republican state,” though political analysts note that Arizona was historically a Republican stronghold before transforming into a competitive swing state in recent years due to population growth, shifting suburban voting patterns, and demographic changes. Democrats have controlled Arizona’s top three statewide offices and both U.S. Senate seats for the past decade, though Trump won the state in 2024 after losing it in 2020.
Other contests also drew significant attention. In Arizona’s first congressional district, Democrat Amish Shah will face Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker, in November. In the sixth district, Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine Corps veteran running unopposed, will challenge Republican congressman Juan Ciscomani. Mark Lamb, a former Pinal County sheriff backed by Trump, won the nomination in the safely Republican fifth district despite reports of sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies and prosecutors did not pursue criminally.
For attorney general, Warren Petersen, president of the Arizona Senate, won the Republican primary and will face Democrat Kris Mayes, who won the office in 2022 by 280 votes. The primaries also settled numerous legislative races where Republicans maintain narrow majorities in both state chambers.
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