Arizona Legislature

Katie Hobbs Sounds Alarm Over 'Election Denier' Eyeing Arizona's Governorship

Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) is going on offense ahead of what could be one of the most consequential gubernatorial races in the country, warning that the outcome of the 2026 election carries implications well beyond state lines.

Gov. Hobbs, one of only five Democratic governors currently serving in states that President Donald Trump carried in 2024, is making the case that the race is about more than Arizona politics. She won her seat in 2022 by a razor-thin margin of just 17,117 votes, and faces what polling suggests will be a rematch against a Trump-aligned opponent.

"Let me be crystal clear, there is a reason Donald Trump wants Andy Biggs as governor of Arizona," Hobbs said. "We are one of the seven swing states that decide presidential elections, and if Andy Biggs becomes governor, Arizona would be the first swing state to be led by an election denier. The time to stop that is not 2028, it is right now."

Recent Polling Suggests

On the Republican side, Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has emerged as the clear frontrunner heading into the July 21 primary. A NextGen poll conducted April 13–16 showed Biggs leading the field with 52 percent support, putting him 42 points ahead of the next closest competitor, Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ), who sat at 10 percent.

An earlier Noble Predictive Insights survey from February 23–26 showed a similar dynamic, with Rep. Biggs at 40 percent and Schweikert at 19 percent, a 21-point gap.

Biggs has been energized by President Trump's 2024 six-point victory in Arizona, which has fueled a conservative field eager to reclaim the governorship.

Despite the enthusiasm on the Republican side, general election polling suggests Hobbs currently holds an advantage. The Noble Predictive Insights February survey showed Hobbs leading Schweikert by 9 points, 44 to 35 percent, and leading Biggs by 5 points, 42 to 37 percent.

With the primary still months away and the general election further out, both sides are treating Arizona as ground zero in a broader national battle over control of swing states.

Ericka Rodriguez Diaz

Ericka Piñon is a reporter for Cactus Politics specializing in Arizona Legislative Correspondent. With 1 year on the ground in Phoenix, Arizona, they have been cited by Cactus Politics, Big Energy News, The Floridian Press, and Texas Politics. Her focus is on Public Relations and Communications. Email: Ericka@dnm.news

Recent Posts

Renewed Hope Act Signed Into Law, Bringing New Resources to Child Rescue Efforts

A new federal law is dramatically expanding the government's ability to find and rescue children…

2 days ago

Supreme Court Strikes Down Hawaii's Private Property Gun Restriction in 6-3 Decision

The Supreme Court handed down a major Second Amendment ruling Thursday, one that asked whether…

2 days ago

From Cancer Claims to Mental Health, New Laws Take Aim at First Responder Struggles

Arizona's first responders put their lives on the line every day. This week, the state…

2 days ago

SNAKEBITE— 6.26.26— Biggs on 10K Gang Arrests by ICE— Kris Mayes on Court's Ruling Against Trump Mail-In Voting— ROAD To Housing Act, Much More...

Biggs on 10K Gang Arrests by ICE Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) applauded a recent announcement…

2 days ago

New Solar Installations Bring Reliable Power to More Navajo Homes in Arizona

Nine additional families on the Navajo Nation now have access to home electricity through an…

3 days ago

Andy Biggs Applauds Arrest and Deportation of 10,000 Foreign Gang Members

Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) applauded a recent announcement that 10,000 foreign gang members illegally present…

3 days ago