GOP Turmoil in Arizona as Candidates Clash Over MAGA Vision

WHO:

Alternet - Arizona has a Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, and two Democratic U.S. senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.

ABC News - Rep. Andy Biggs and Rep. David Schweikert are candidates in the Republican primary for Arizona governor.

ABC News - Biggs is endorsed by Trump and backed by Turning Point Action.

ABC News - Kathleen Dunbar, a former member of the Tucson City Council, supports Schweikert.

ABC News - Don Dobie, a Biggs supporter from Scottsdale, expressed his approval of Biggs.

ABC News - Jeff Clark, a retired telecommunications engineer from Scottsdale, is dismayed by the party's embrace of Trump.

ABC News - Michael LoBello, a 79-year-old retiree from Scottsdale, voted for Biggs.

ABC News - Jeff Cohen, an attorney, voted for Amish Shah, a candidate in the Democratic primary.

WHAT:

Alternet - Arizona Republicans are engaged in a heated debate over two competing visions for their party, with some fearing that nominating Rep. Andy Biggs in the upcoming primary could lead to repeating past mistakes.

ABC News - Biggs is attempting to persuade voters that he is more electable than Kari Lake, whose polarizing comments and baseless claims of election fraud alienated independents and some Republicans during her unsuccessful bids for governor and Senate.

ABC News - Biggs, who formerly chaired the House Freedom Caucus, is known for being a far-right Trump ally but is trying to appear more moderate as he competes for Arizona's 2026 GOP gubernatorial nomination.

ABC News - Biggs styled himself as a bipartisan dealmaker during a recent debate, stating, "Here's the bottom line: I know how to reach across the aisle."

ABC News - Biggs has been attempting to present himself as a bipartisan dealmaker during his campaign, stating, "Here's the bottom line: I know how to reach across the aisle."

ABC News - Biggs has never faced a tough campaign against a Democrat, and his biggest asset is his alliance with Trump, although Trump's endorsement has been a double-edged sword in Arizona.

ABC News - In 2022, a Trump-backed slate of Republicans, including Kari Lake, lost the general election after failing to moderate their message.

ABC News - Biggs has been involved in efforts to block the 2020 election certification and now refuses to say whether Biden's win was legitimate.

ABC News - Biggs has played a key role in taking down Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy and joined an unsuccessful rebellion against his successor, Mike Johnson.

ABC News - Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely has Trump's endorsement but has faced criticism for living outside the district he is running in.

Alternet - Arizona Republicans are debating two competing visions for their party: far-right MAGA culture versus traditional conservatism.

Alternet - Biggs is attempting to persuade voters that he is more electable than Kari Lake, who lost previous elections.

ABC News - Biggs and Schweikert are on a collision course in the Republican primary for governor.

ABC News - Biggs has never faced a tough campaign against a Democrat.

ABC News - Biggs has been involved in efforts to block the 2020 election certification.

ABC News - Biggs was one of the few House members to vote against economic stimulus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC News - Biggs has a direct line to Trump and has built a national profile as a hardliner against compromise.

ABC News - The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee supports Marlene Galán-Woods in the Democratic primary.

WHERE:

Alternet - Arizona is described as a swing state.

ABC News - Biggs and Schweikert represent districts in Phoenix's suburban East Valley, the whitest and wealthiest districts in Arizona.

ABC News - Biggs lives in a district where he is expected to win easily, while Schweikert lives in a more competitive district.

WHEN:

ABC News - The primary for governor is scheduled for a future date, referred to as "Tuesday."

WHY:

ABC News - Republicans in Arizona are struggling because they aren't aggressive enough in pushing Trump's priorities, according to Michael LoBello, a 79-year-old retiree from Scottsdale.

Alternet - Some Republicans fear the party will repeat past mistakes by nominating candidates perceived as too extreme.

ABC News - Republicans in Arizona have seen their power erode as voters reject nominees viewed as too extreme.

HOW:

ABC News - Biggs has been sanding down the edges of his no-compromise persona to appeal to a broader electorate.

Alternet - Biggs is attempting to present himself as a bipartisan dealmaker during his campaign.

ABC News - Biggs is sanding down the edges of his no-compromise persona to appeal to a broader electorate.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 14:39 UTC)

Arizona Republicans are currently embroiled in a fierce debate over their party's direction, with concerns that nominating Rep. Andy Biggs in the upcoming primary could lead to repeating past mistakes. Biggs, a far-right Trump ally and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, is trying to position himself as more electable than Kari Lake by presenting a more moderate image, even claiming to be a bipartisan dealmaker during a recent debate. As he competes for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2026, Biggs is working to soften his no-compromise persona to attract a wider range of voters, reflecting the party's struggle to effectively champion Trump's priorities.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 13:34 UTC)

Arizona Republicans are currently embroiled in a fierce debate over their party's direction, with concerns that nominating Rep. Andy Biggs in the upcoming primary could lead to repeating past mistakes. Biggs is positioning himself as a bipartisan dealmaker, claiming, "Here's the bottom line: I know how to reach across the aisle," despite never facing a tough campaign against a Democrat and relying heavily on his alliance with Trump, which has proven to be a mixed blessing in the state. Meanwhile, some party members believe that the lack of aggression in pushing Trump's priorities is contributing to the party's struggles, as noted by Michael LoBello, a retiree from Scottsdale.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 12:44 UTC)

In Arizona, the Republican primary for governor is heating up as Rep. Andy Biggs, endorsed by Trump, faces off against Rep. David Schweikert, with both candidates representing districts in the affluent East Valley. Biggs is trying to position himself as a more electable choice than Kari Lake, while also attempting to soften his hardline image to attract a wider range of voters. The primary is set for "Tuesday," and as Republicans grapple with their party's direction, some fear that nominating candidates perceived as too extreme could lead to repeating past mistakes.