2026 AZ Gov Race Offers Epic Republican Showdown

In the ever-entertaining circus of Arizona politics, the 2026 gubernatorial race promises brutal primary fights. The winners of each party’s fight will emerge as formidable general election challengers.

Arizona’s governor, Katie Hobbs (D), faces declining approval ratings, making a 2026 gubernatorial primary challenge likely. A May 2024 Emerson College Polling survey indicated that only 38% of Arizonans approve of Hobbs’ performance, while 42% disapprove. By November 2024, her favorability had decreased to 36%, the lowest approval rate among seven swing-state governors. 

In light of these numbers, Democrats approached Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to consider challenging Hobbs in a primary. Fontes acknowledged these discussions by joking about the possible gubernatorial run. However, as of January 2025, both Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes signaled they will run for re-election for their current positions. Hobbs often boasts, “I’ve never lost a race,” but the 2026 election will undoubtedly test that claim.

The Republicans boast a much deeper bench than the Democrats, likely providing a bruising and potentially highly entertaining primary race. The likely candidates include Karrin Taylor Robson, Kimberly Yee, Scott Neely, and Andy Biggs (who made his intent to run official today,

Karrin Taylor Robson is a seasoned business executive and land-use consultant. She began her career as a staff assistant for President Ronald Reagan’s Economic Policy Council and later served in George H. W. Bush’s administration. Appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents in 2017, she resigned in 2021 to focus on her gubernatorial campaign.

Despite losing the 2022 primary to Kari Lake, Robson secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the 2026 race. His nod came as a shock to many Republicans, who see her as a traditional conservative. She has reportedly held fundraisers for Chris Christie, Mike Pence, and Asa Hutchinson and was a former bundler for Ruben Gallego. 

Kimberly Yee has served as Arizona’s State Treasurer since 2019, with the distinction of being the first Asian American elected to an Arizona statewide office. Before her tenure as treasurer, she was a member of the Arizona Legislature, serving in both the House and Senate, and was the Senate Majority Leader from 2017 to 2019. Yee briefly entered the 2022 gubernatorial race but withdrew to seek re-election as treasurer amid a crowded field. With term limits approaching, she is reportedly considering another gubernatorial bid, potentially bringing her extensive legislative, administrative, and financial experience to the governor’s office. Yee is a popular leader, respected by the far right, traditional conservatives, independents, and likely some Democrats as well.

Scott Neely, a successful businessman, added a touch of unpredictability to the 2022 Republican primary for Governor. Despite his inability to gain significant traction last election, he filed paperwork to run in the 2026 gubernatorial race. Given that an uber-popular far-right candidate just threw his hat into the ring, it’s unclear whether Neely will pursue his run for Governor.

Andy Biggs has represented Arizona’s 5th congressional district since 2017. He’s been a prominent figure in the House Freedom Caucus, serving as its chairman from 2019 to 2022. Known for staunch conservative positions and his alignment with the Trump wing of the Republican Party, Biggs filed paperwork for the 2026 gubernatorial race, potentially bringing his federal legislative experience to the state executive role. To say a political earthquake just hit Arizona is an understatement. The only question is how quickly President Trump will revoke his Robson endorsement, or will we see two endorsements as we did with Abe Hamadeh and Blake Masters?

In addition to the expected political theater and high-stakes drama, 2026 will usher in Arizona’s new Lieutenant Governor position! Interestingly, the new position is flying under the radar, unexpectedly generating little buzz. So far, the only name we’ve seen floated is Gina Swoboda. However, given that her hands are full with the looming Republican chair race this week, there hasn’t been enough political oxygen for this part of the story.

The Arizona Globe is closely following the race and the Lt. Gov position.