Republican Hopefuls Vie to Challenge Arizona's Democratic Governor

WHO:

ABC News - U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs and U.S. Rep. David Schweikert are the two Republican congressmen running for Arizona governor.

ABC News - Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is the incumbent governor of Arizona.

ABC News - Businessman Scott Neely also participated in the gubernatorial debate.

WHAT:

ABC News - Biggs is the front-runner in the GOP primary and has the endorsement of Trump.

ABC News - Biggs claimed he is the most competitive candidate against Hobbs based on polling data.

ABC News - Schweikert emphasized his focus on government finances and business recruitment as key strengths.

ABC News - The winner of the July 21 primary will face Hobbs, who is running unopposed in her primary.

ABC News - Biggs has served five terms in the U.S. House and previously served in the Arizona Legislature from 2003 through 2016.

ABC News - Schweikert has represented his district for eight terms and has a history of focusing on the federal budget deficit.

WHERE:

ABC News - The debate took place in Phoenix, Arizona.

ABC News - Biggs represents a heavily GOP district in the eastern Phoenix suburbs.

ABC News - Schweikert represents parts of northeast Phoenix and Scottsdale.

WHEN:

ABC News - The primary election is scheduled for July 21.

WHY:

ABC News - The candidates are positioning themselves to address Arizona's affordability struggles and to unseat Hobbs.

HOW:

ABC News - Biggs voiced support for a three-year moratorium on tax incentives for new data centers.

ABC News - Schweikert stated that consumer prices do not decrease magically and vowed to recruit businesses to Arizona and push for wage growth.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 14:07 UTC)

In the race for Arizona governor, Republican congressmen Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are vying for their party's nomination, with Biggs currently leading and backed by Trump. Both candidates participated in a recent debate in Phoenix, where Biggs highlighted his polling strength against incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, while Schweikert emphasized his focus on government finances and business recruitment. The primary election is set for July 21, and the winner will face Hobbs, who is running unopposed in her primary, as they tackle Arizona's affordability challenges.