Primary Victory and General Election Outlook
U.S. Representative Andy Biggs has officially secured the Republican nomination for governor of Arizona following a decisive victory in Tuesday’s primary election. Biggs, 67, who has represented Arizona’s 5th Congressional District since 2017, captured 73.4% of the vote, defeating fellow U.S. Representative David Schweikert. He is now set to face Democratic incumbent Governor Katie Hobbs in what is expected to be a highly competitive general election this November.
The campaign, which has been marked by significant internal GOP friction, saw Schweikert attempt to highlight what he described as Biggs’s problematic associations. In a campaign mailer distributed in March, Schweikert’s team pointed to Biggs’s interview with internet personality Stew Peters and his endorsement of Texas GOP candidate Brandon Herrera, who had been linked to ownership of “Mein Kampf.”
Controversy Over Extremist Ties
Biggs’s campaign has faced persistent criticism regarding his perceived connections to far-right and white nationalist figures. Specifically, his June 2023 appearance on the show hosted by Stew Peters—who has repeatedly denied Holocaust facts and labeled Judaism a “death cult”—drew widespread condemnation. During that appearance, Biggs was recorded telling Peters to “keep preaching” after the two discussed the abolition of the FBI.
Furthermore, watchdog organizations, including Media Matters, have documented Biggs’s past attendance at rallies involving the Proud Boys and his historical ties to the Oath Keepers. Biggs has consistently dismissed these allegations as politically motivated. In a recent local television interview, he labeled the claims of antisemitism as “ludicrous” and “insane.”
Legislative Record on Antisemitism
The candidate’s record has also come under scrutiny regarding his legislative actions. In 2024, Biggs voted against the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act. He defended his opposition by arguing that the bill was “poorly drafted,” claiming it could violate constitutional rights and potentially result in negative ramifications for the Christian community. Biggs has stated that he is opposed to antisemitism and described current anti-Israel protests on college campuses as “sickening.”
As the race shifts toward the November general election, the focus remains on the ideological divide between Biggs and Governor Hobbs. Hobbs, who defeated Kari Lake in the 2022 election, has already begun targeting Biggs’s refusal to acknowledge the results of the 2020 presidential election and the legitimacy of her own gubernatorial victory.