Rep. Andy Biggs, backed by Donald Trump, won the Arizona Republican primary for governor with roughly 71.8% of preliminary votes, defeating Rep. David Schweikert. He will challenge Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs in November. Biggs—formerly a leader of the House Freedom Caucus—ran on border security and tax cuts. Hobbs has criticized him for denying past election results and for refusing to certify electors in 2020.
Andy Biggs Clinches Arizona GOP Nomination, Sets Up High-Stakes November Showdown With Katie Hobbs
Rep. Arizona Andy Biggs was poised Tuesday night to win the Republican nomination for Arizona governor. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Rep. Andy Biggs, a close ally of former President Donald Trump who supported efforts to overturn the 2020 election, claimed victory Tuesday night in the Republican primary for Arizona governor. The win sets up a high-profile November contest against Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs.
Preliminary results from the Arizona Secretary of State's Office showed Biggs with about 71.8% of the vote to Rep. David Schweikert's 15.5%. Trump publicly backed Biggs in the primary, and Biggs entered the race as the heavy favorite.
Long viewed as a figure on the Republican Party's right flank and a former leader of the House Freedom Caucus, Biggs ran on traditional GOP themes such as border security and tax cuts while emphasizing his alignment with Trump.
Hobbs campaigned on reducing costs for Arizonans and expanding affordable housing, presenting herself as a pragmatic alternative in a politically divided state. She has repeatedly criticized Biggs for his record on election denial.
"Andy Biggs has spent years undermining confidence. He still denies the outcome of the 2020 election and refused to certify Arizona's electors, and he still won't admit who won the 2022 governor's race," Hobbs said. "I'll save him the trouble: I did."
What Comes Next
The November race will be closely watched nationally: observers view it both as a barometer of voter sentiment during the midterms and as an indicator of Arizona's role as a continued presidential battleground. Expect the general election to focus on issues such as the economy, immigration, election integrity and housing.
Vote Totals (Preliminary)
Andy Biggs: 71.8%
David Schweikert: 15.5%
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