Andy Biggs and Jay Feely Win Arizona Republican Primary Nominations

GOP Gubernatorial Nomination: Biggs Defeats Schweikert

In a contest that pitted two sitting members of Congress against one another, Rep. Andy Biggs secured the Republican nomination for governor. According to The Washington Post, Biggs—a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus—leveraged a key endorsement from Donald Trump to overcome the traditional conservatism of Rep. David Schweikert.

Biggs, who has frequently questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, maintained a significant lead in opinion polls leading up to the primary. As reported by the sources, his platform includes staunch opposition to abortion, creating a sharp ideological contrast with incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Hobbs, who was unopposed in her primary, is expected to face a competitive general election in a state that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates as leaning Democratic.

Jay Feely Secures Nomination in 1st Congressional District

The Republican race for the 1st Congressional District concluded with a victory for Jay Feely, a former Arizona Cardinals placekicker and television announcer. seattletimes.com reports that Feely’s path to the nomination was marked by an intense primary battle against former state lawmaker Joseph Chaplik, involving dueling attack websites and cease-and-desist letters.

Feely initially intended to run in a different district, but shifted his campaign at the president’s request. Following his primary win, Feely signaled a focus on broader economic issues for the general election.

“As we look forward, this race will be about the economy, and this race will be about who best is going to represent this district and the people of this district.”

Jay Feely, Republican nominee for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District

The Democratic primary for the same district remained uncalled as of late Tuesday night. The contest features Dr. Amish Shah, an emergency physician who served as the Democratic nominee in 2024, and former local news anchor Marlene Galán-Woods, who received backing from the national party’s campaign arm, according to the AP.

Election Denialism and State-Level Races

The primary results also advanced candidates who have challenged the outcomes of past elections. Beyond the gubernatorial race, Republicans selected state Senate President Warren Petersen as their nominee for attorney general and state Rep. Alexander Kolodin for secretary of state. Sources note that both men have histories of questioning the 2020 election results, with Kolodin having been sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in the 2020 “kraken” lawsuit.

These positions carry significant weight, as the winners will influence the certification of the 2028 presidential results in Arizona.

Looking Toward the November Midterms

The general election matchups are now set for a state that remains a pivotal battleground. In the 6th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and his Democratic challenger, Marine Corps veteran JoAnna Mendoza, are already prepared for the fall, as both were unopposed in their respective primaries.

With the primary season concluded, the focus shifts to whether Republican candidates can expand their reach beyond the party’s base. While Trump-endorsed candidates found success on Tuesday, the state’s political history in recent years—including the failure of Kari Lake to win either governor or Senate races—leaves the outcome of the November contests, particularly for the governorship and key House seats, as a matter of significant national interest.