Key facts
- Arizona Republicans are holding primaries Tuesday to select nominees for governor and other key offices.
- The races will determine the challengers to Democratic incumbents in a crucial battleground state.
- U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are prominent candidates in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
- The 1st Congressional District features a competitive Republican primary, with Trump-endorsed Jay Feeley facing Joseph Chaplik.
- Democrats are targeting several Arizona races, including the 1st Congressional District and a competitive House seat in Tucson.
Arizona Republicans are selecting nominees on Tuesday for key statewide and congressional offices, with the outcomes poised to influence the November midterm elections. The state, once a Republican stronghold, is now a critical battleground.
In the race for governor, U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Biggs, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus and a staunch defender of President Donald Trump, is backed by Trump and the conservative group Turning Point Action. Schweikert, who has maintained a more cautious distance from Trump, emphasizes his pro-business, fiscal conservatism, aiming to appeal to moderate voters.
The Republican party is also choosing nominees for secretary of state and attorney general, positions that hold significant power over election administration in Arizona. These races are particularly sensitive given past efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
The 1st Congressional District, a competitive seat anchored in Scottsdale, is a focal point. Democrats have controversially backed Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican and television news anchor, in the primary. Her main opponent is Amish Shah, an emergency medicine doctor and former state legislator. On the Republican side, former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feeley has Trump's endorsement but faces criticism for residing outside the district. He is competing against former state legislator Joseph Chaplik and businessperson John Trobough.
In another key House race, retired Marine drill instructor JoAnna Mendoza is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani in a perennial swing district. For the safe Republican seat being vacated by Andy Biggs, former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, also endorsed by Trump, is facing scrutiny over past allegations but has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing. He is running against Daniel Keenan.