PHOENIX — The two Republican congressmen running for Arizona governor pitched themselves at a debate Wednesday as the only candidate with broad enough voter appeal to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs amid the state's affordability struggles.
U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who is the GOP primary's front-runner and has received President Donald Trump's endorsement, portrayed himself as being able to cross party lines and having the right experience to be the state's chief executive. "There's not a doubt in my mind, if you look at the polling data that you're going to find, I am the most competitive with Katie Hobbs of anybody on this stage in any Republican in the state," Biggs said.
U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, who has survived three tough Democratic challenges in recent years, believes his focus on government finances and his drive to bring new business to the state make him the singular Republican candidate. "These are wonderful people, but they've never actually been in the great battle," Schweikert said of Biggs and two other Republican opponents.
Businessman Scott Neely, who ran an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2022, said after the debate that if Biggs wins the primary, Republicans will lose the election. The winner of the July 21 primary will face Hobbs, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
What the Left Is Saying
Arizona Democrats have pointed to affordability concerns as a central issue in the race, with progressive groups arguing that neither Republican candidate has presented substantive solutions for working families. Democratic strategists note that Hobbs has highlighted her administration's passage of a three-year moratorium on tax incentives for new data centers — a policy Biggs voiced support for during the debate.
"They shouldn't be given a break," Biggs said at the debate, noting the large amounts of power and water that data centers use. The overlap with Hobbs' position on this issue illustrates the competitive political terrain as both parties seek to address voter concerns about rising costs in the state.
Democratic commentators have argued that the Republican primary's focus on ideological purity may not translate to general election appeal against an incumbent governor who has navigated the state's complex political landscape.
What the Right Is Saying
Biggs, who has served five terms in the U.S. House representing a heavily GOP district in the eastern Phoenix suburbs, emphasized his ability to work across party lines while highlighting his conservative credentials. He previously served in the Arizona Legislature from 2003 through 2016, including four years as president of the state Senate.
Biggs is one of Trump's top defenders in Congress and supported Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. His campaign has sought to capitalize on the Trump endorsement as a signal of electoral strength heading into the primary.
Schweikert, known for his budget hawk stance against government debt, told voters that Arizona's unfavorable affordability rankings are "pretty miserable" but said consumer prices do not come down magically. He vowed to aggressively recruit businesses to Arizona and push for wage growth. Schweikert has praised Trump's 2017 tax cuts but has called for more spending cuts to reduce federal borrowing.
What the Numbers Show
Biggs currently holds the front-runner status in most Republican primary polls, bolstered by Trump's endorsement. He served as chairman of the conservative U.S. House Freedom Caucus and has represented his district since 2017.
Schweikert has survived three consecutive competitive general election battles against Democratic challengers for his affluent northeast Phoenix and Scottsdale district. However, his campaign has faced scrutiny over ethics issues: in 2022, he received a $125,000 fine from the Federal Election Commission for misappropriating campaign funds; two years prior, he agreed to pay a $50,000 fine and accept findings of 11 campaign finance violations after an investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics.
Arizona's gubernatorial race represents a key contest in the 2026 midterm cycle, with Republicans seeking to reclaim a governorship they lost to Hobbs in 2022.
The Bottom Line
The July 21 Republican primary will determine who faces Hobbs in the general election. Both Biggs and Schweikert have argued their respective strengths — experience, crossover appeal, business focus — make them better positioned than their opponent to defeat an incumbent governor in a state that has shown competitive electoral trends in recent cycles.
The race underscores broader questions within the Republican Party about whether Trump-aligned candidates or more moderate fiscal conservatives hold greater electability in swing-state gubernatorial contests. What happens next will offer clues about the party's direction heading into the 2026 election cycle.