Arizona just handed Donald Trump exactly what he wanted. A key Republican primary result could set the stage for one of the most fiercely contested governor’s races in the country.
Andy Biggs wins Arizona primary election
Andy Biggs, the hard-right congressman endorsed by Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for Arizona governor on Tuesday, according to The Guardian. The victory sets up a high-stakes general election against incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Arizona remains one of the most closely watched battleground states in the country.
Biggs, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, trounced fellow congressman David Schweikert in the primary. He secured the nomination by appealing to the party’s deeply conservative base. Schweikert had argued that Biggs’ hard-right politics allowed Democrats to make gains in Arizona. Businessmen Ken Miceli and Scott Neely also competed for the nomination.
Hobbs, who flipped the governor’s seat from red to blue in 2022, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Arizona has transformed from a Republican stronghold into a competitive swing state in recent years. Rapid population growth and shifting suburban voting patterns around Phoenix have fueled that change.
Republicans now face unfavorable national political conditions heading into the midterms. Democrats hope to seize control of the House and possibly the Senate. High gas prices and an unpopular Iran war have dragged down Trump’s approval ratings nationwide.
Beyond the governor’s race, Tuesday’s primary settled several other key contests. Warren Petersen led the Republican primary to challenge Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. Alex Kolodin won the Republican nomination for secretary of state and will face Democrat Adrian Fontes. Kolodin previously helped lead failed legal efforts to overturn Arizona’s 2020 and 2022 election results.
Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb won the Republican nomination for Biggs’ safely Republican fifth congressional district. Two toss-up House districts in Arizona also remain central to Democratic efforts this fall.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
