Trump-Endorsed Candidate Wins Gubernatorial Primary In Battleground State

Decision Desk HQ projects Andy Biggs wins the Arizona Governor Republican Primary#DecisionMade: 11:01 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Wh5l4UsW6v

— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) July 22, 2026

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Biggs, who has represented a district outside Phoenix for five terms and held a consistent lead in the polls leading up to the primary, continually leaned into Trump’s backing in his campaign and highlighted his support for border security and lowering taxes.

But the Trump dynamic could play differently in the general election in Arizona, one of five states Trump won in 2024 where a Democratic-controlled governorship is on the ballot in 2026.

Democrats have found success in Arizona, once a traditional Republican stronghold, running against Trump-aligned candidates in recent cycles. In addition to a Democratic governor, Arizona is represented by two Democratic U.S. senators, and the party controls the secretary of state and attorney general offices.

In the final stretch of the primary, Biggs sought to cast himself as someone who has worked across the political aisle in Congress, an apparent effort to appeal to the state’s huge chunk of independent voters. More than one-third of the state’s voters are not registered with either major political party.

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Republicans are already eyeing Arizona as one of their biggest gubernatorial pickup opportunities after Rep. Andy Biggs quickly locked up the GOP nomination with President Donald Trump's endorsement.

The state is shaping up to once again be a major battleground. Another… pic.twitter.com/onTw79KVyo

— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 22, 2026

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Meanwhile, the contest to succeed Biggs in the safely Republican fifth congressional district has drawn unusual attention. The Trump-backed Republican nominee, Mark Lamb, the former Pinal county sheriff, spent the closing weeks of the primary campaign confronting allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power reported in a multi-part investigation by the Arizona Republic. Prosecutors found no basis for criminal charges, and Trump has reaffirmed his support for Lamb, who has denied wrongdoing.

He will face Democrat Elizabeth Lee, a nurse, in the general election.

Elsewhere, Republicans chose their nominees for two top state positions that Democrats see as critical to pushing back against the Trump administration.

Warren Petersen, president of the Arizona senate, won the Republican primary race to take on Democrat Kris Mayes for attorney general. Mayes, an outspoken critic of Trump, won the office in 2022 by just 280 votes after an automatic recount, making it one of the closest statewide races in Arizona history. He was competing for the nomination against Rodney Glassman, a former Democrat who was the party’s Senate nominee against John McCain in 2010 before joining the Republican party.

Tuesday’s primary also settled tight contests in legislative races across Arizona, where Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers of the state capitol.

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