Republicans eye Arizona comeback with Hobbs-Biggs governor matchup: Primary takeaways

Arizona voters teed up a slew of competitive races Tuesday as Republicans look to take back control of the Grand Canyon State’s executive branch in November.   

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who’s considered the most endangered gubernatorial incumbent this cycle, will show down against Republican Rep. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), a House Freedom Caucus member backed by President Trump. 

Democrats also currently hold Arizona’s attorney general and secretary of state posts in the battleground state, where Republicans still make up most of the registered electorate.   

The GOP in Arizona is looking to regain ground in November after key losses for major offices, including governor and Senate, in recent years, while also battling political headwinds amid a tough midterm environment.  

Here are the top takeaways from Arizona’s primaries:  

GOP fights to flip Arizona governor’s mansion 

Arizona is still one of Republicans’ best gubernatorial pick-up opportunity this fall, and the party is chomping at the bit to unseat Hobbs.  

Biggs, a staunch ally of the president with support from Turning Point Action, is projected to easily defeat Republican Rep. David Schweikert and businessmen Ken Miceli and Scott Neely, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), to take on Hobbs.  

“As governor, Andy will continue to put Arizona families first while Katie Hobbs focuses on serving special interests instead of addressing affordability, increasing the supply of housing, and creating more good-paying jobs,” said Republican Governors Association President Greg Gianforte (R) in a statement.  

But flipping the seat will be an uphill battle for the GOP in a midterm environment favoring Democrats. The party has looked to Biggs as “too extreme” for the state, with Hobbs making his election denialism a central attack line in her campaign.  

“Even his own party is warning he’s too extreme for Arizona, and we’re going to ensure he’s rejected at the ballot box in November,” said Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, in a statement. 

Biggs voted to overturn the 2020 election results as Trump baselessly claimed he won the presidential election, including the state........

© The Hill