Arizona governor's race will test MAGA future for Republican Party

Republican candidates vie for party's hard-right flank in primary, but may struggle in general election

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The race for Arizona governor will be a test for the Republican Party as it grapples with the influence of the MAGA movement. U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, backed by former President Trump and Turning Point USA, is the frontrunner in the GOP primary, but his hard-right positions may hurt the party's chances in the general election against Democratic incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, a more traditional Republican, is positioning himself as the candidate who can unite the party, though he faces an uphill battle against Biggs' MAGA support.

Why it matters

Arizona has long been a crucial state for the Republican Party, but the party has struggled to win statewide elections in recent years as Democrats have gained ground. The governor's race will be a key test of whether the Republican Party can appeal to a broader electorate beyond its hard-right base, or if the MAGA faction will continue to dominate the party's direction.

The details

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, a former U.S. House Freedom Caucus chairman, is the frontrunner in the Republican primary due to his backing from former President Trump and the conservative youth group Turning Point USA. His opponent, U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, is a more traditional Republican budget hawk who has repeatedly fended off Democratic challengers in his competitive district. Whoever wins the primary will face Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who defeated Trump-backed Kari Lake in 2022 and is now running for a second term.

  • The Republican primary election is scheduled for July 2026.
  • The general election for Arizona governor will be held in November 2026.

The players

Andy Biggs

U.S. Representative for Arizona's 5th congressional district and former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. He is the frontrunner in the Republican primary for governor, backed by former President Trump and Turning Point USA.

David Schweikert

U.S. Representative for Arizona's 6th congressional district and a more traditional Republican budget hawk. He is running against Biggs in the GOP primary for governor.

Katie Hobbs

The current Democratic governor of Arizona, who defeated Trump-backed Kari Lake in 2022 and is now running for a second term.

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What they’re saying

“My goal is to mobilize everybody.”

— Andy Biggs, U.S. Representative (wbal.com)

“Even some of the Biggs people, they'll come up to me and say, 'Uh, we know he can't win the general election but he's our friend.'”

— David Schweikert, U.S. Representative (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Republican primary election in Arizona is scheduled for July 2026, with the winner facing off against Democratic incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs in the general election in November 2026.

The takeaway

The Arizona governor's race will be a key test for the Republican Party as it grapples with the influence of the MAGA movement. The party's choice of nominee - whether a hard-right MAGA candidate like Andy Biggs or a more traditional Republican like David Schweikert - could determine whether the GOP can appeal to a broader electorate or remains beholden to its most ardent supporters.