Trump-backed Extremist Andy Biggs Projected to Win Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Primary
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CNN’s Decision Desk projects Rep. Andy Biggs, a hardline Trump loyalist and election denier, will secure the Republican nomination for Arizona governor, setting up a November contest against progressive Democrat Katie Hobbs.
CNN’s Decision Desk projected that Rep. Andy Biggs, a far-right member of Congress notorious for his role in undermining democracy by voting against certifying the 2020 election results, will win the Republican primary for Arizona governor. Biggs, who has aligned himself with the extremist House Freedom Caucus and has consistently opposed progressive legislation, is now positioned to challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs in the November general election. Biggs’s campaign was boosted by the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who continues to exert a dangerous influence over the Republican Party, as well as support from the ultra-conservative activist group Turning Point Action. Trump’s backing of Biggs came after his previous endorsement of Karrin Taylor Robson, who withdrew from the race.
In the same primary, former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, another Trump-endorsed candidate with a record of anti-immigrant rhetoric and hardline policing, was projected to win the GOP nomination for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District. Meanwhile, former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who poured significant personal wealth into his campaign and touted Trump’s endorsement, was projected to win the GOP primary in the 1st District. Both candidates represent the ongoing rightward shift of the Republican Party, prioritizing loyalty to Trump over substantive policy.
The projections also set up a general-election contest in Arizona’s 6th District, where Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, committed to defending democracy and expanding access to the ballot, is expected to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who has aligned himself with the GOP’s obstructionist agenda. Both candidates have raised multi-million-dollar war chests, highlighting the high stakes of the November race.
"We are confident that Arizona voters will have a clear choice in November," said a spokesperson for the CNN Decision Desk, as the outcomes will influence control of the U.S. House, with several competitive congressional races in the state still undecided. The future of democracy and progressive values in Arizona hangs in the balance.