Arizona GOP candidate drops out of primary, narrowing field to two

Housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson suspends campaign, citing desire to avoid divisive primary

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has suspended her campaign for Arizona governor. Her exit narrows the Republican field to two candidates: U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who also received Trump's endorsement, and U.S. Rep. David Schweikert. Taylor Robson said she does not want a divisive GOP primary that weakens conservative causes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Why it matters

The Arizona governor's race is a key battleground contest, and the Republican primary has been closely watched. Taylor Robson's exit reduces the number of candidates and could shift the dynamics of the race. Her decision highlights the challenges of navigating intraparty divisions within the GOP.

The details

In a statement, Taylor Robson said the decision to suspend her campaign was not easy, but she believes a divisive Republican primary 'drains resources and turns into months of intraparty attacks.' She said the stakes are high for the 2026 midterms, and she does not want to contribute to the party's fractures. Taylor Robson sought the governor's job in 2022 but narrowly lost the GOP primary to Kari Lake, who went on to lose the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

  • On February 12, 2026, Karrin Taylor Robson suspended her campaign for Arizona governor.

The players

Karrin Taylor Robson

A housing developer who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in the Arizona governor's race.

Andy Biggs

A U.S. Representative who was also endorsed by Trump and the conservative youth group Turning Point USA in the Arizona governor's race.

David Schweikert

A U.S. Representative running in the Arizona governor's race.

Kari Lake

The Republican nominee for Arizona governor in 2022 who lost the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Katie Hobbs

The current Democratic governor of Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“While I am stepping back from this race, I am not stepping back from the fight for Arizona's future.”

— Karrin Taylor Robson

“She has been a model citizen and I'm certain she can utilize her gifts to continue to benefit the state into the future in many ways.”

— Doug Ducey, Former Governor of Arizona

What’s next

The Arizona Republican primary for governor is now narrowed down to two candidates, Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, who will compete to advance to the general election.

The takeaway

Taylor Robson's decision to suspend her campaign highlights the challenges of navigating intraparty divisions within the Republican Party, especially in high-profile races like the Arizona governor's contest. Her exit reduces the number of candidates but could also shift the dynamics of the race as the GOP looks to retake the governorship in 2026.