PHOENIX—Candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump won several of Arizona's highest-profile Republican primary contests on Tuesday, reinforcing the president's influence over the party in a key battleground state ahead of the November midterm elections.
U.S. Representative Andy Biggs secured the Republican nomination for governor, defeating fellow Representative David Schweikert and other rivals to earn the right to challenge Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who advanced without opposition in her party's primary. Biggs, a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and a longtime Trump ally, received the president's endorsement during the campaign.
In Arizona's closely watched 1st Congressional District, former National Football League kicker Jay Feely, another Trump-backed candidate, won the Republican nomination for the open seat. The district is expected to be among the nation's most competitive U.S. House races in November and is viewed as critical to the battle for control of the chamber. Democrat Amish Shah emerged as the Democratic nominee after defeating Marlene Galan-Woods in the party's primary.
Republican voters also selected candidates for other statewide offices, including secretary of state, where the outcome drew attention because the office oversees Arizona's elections. The race will be closely watched in a state that has remained at the center of disputes over the administration of the 2020 presidential election.
Arizona has become one of the country's most competitive political battlegrounds in recent election cycles. Although Trump carried the state in the 2024 presidential election, Democrats currently hold the governorship and several other statewide offices. The state's large bloc of independent voters is expected to play a decisive role in the general election.
Democrats have argued that several Republican nominees hold positions that could prove difficult in a statewide electorate, while Republicans contend their candidates are better aligned with conservative voters and the party's base. Political analysts expect the governor's race and multiple congressional contests to rank among the most competitive races nationwide this fall.
With the primaries concluded, campaigns from both parties are expected to shift their focus toward the November general election, when Arizona voters will decide races that could influence control of Congress and test the political strength of both Trump-backed Republicans and Democratic incumbents.
