Governor
Republicans headed to the polls yesterday to select their candidate to face Governor Katie Hobbs (D), who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Republican primary featured four candidates with Congressmen Andy Biggs and David Schweikert leading the pack. While both candidates hold nearly identical voting records in Congress, Biggs has aligned himself more closely with the Trump administration and received his endorsement. In the end, Biggs handily secured the party’s nomination with approximately 73% of the vote. He has represented Arizona’s 5th Congressional District since 2017 where he sits on the House Judiciary Committee and is the chair of both the House Crime and Federal Surveillance Subcommittee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Biggs previously served as chair of the House Freedom Caucus for two years. His campaign is centered on an affordability agenda that seeks to lower taxes, increase job growth, and limit red tape. He has also highlighted his desire to strengthen border security, focus on state government transparency, foster responsible water and land resource management, and expand school choice programs.
Governor Katie Hobbs (D) was first elected in 2022. Her reelection campaign is focused on her accomplishments in office where she has prioritized addressing the costs of housing, strengthening the state's clean energy and water infrastructure, increasing access to healthcare, and improving K-12 education. During her first year in office, Hobbs set a record for the most vetoes during a legislative session, vetoing 143 bills passed by the Republican-led legislature. Prior to her time as governor, Hobbs served as secretary of state from 2019 to 2023 and served four terms in the state legislature, including two as senate minority leader.
Hobbs is the most vulnerable sitting Democratic governor this fall. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate this race as Leans Democrat.
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Kris Mayes ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Elected in 2022, she previously served two terms on the Arizona Corporation Commission including as the body’s chair. Since taking office as attorney general, Mayes has focused her agenda on protecting Arizona consumers from fraud and scams, pursuing antitrust enforcement, combating elder abuse, addressing the fentanyl epidemic and cartel activity, and holding corporations accountable for unlawful business practices. She has also highlighted groundwater protection and sustainability as priorities.
In the Republican primary, State Senate President Warren Petersen competed with attorney Rodney Glassman. Petersen, who maintained an edge over his opponent leading up the primary, secured the party’s nomination with approximately 56% of the vote. First elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2012, Petersen has served in legislative leadership for more than a decade and currently represents district 14 in the senate, covering Gilbert and parts of Queen Creek. Petersen's campaign platform centers on enforcing state laws without political bias, supporting law enforcement, combating violent crime and drug trafficking, and increasing accountability within state government.
Treasurer
Incumbent State Treasurer Kimberly Yee (R) is term-limited and running for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Entrepreneur Nick Mansour ran unopposed in the Democratic primary to replace her. Born and raised in Arizona, Mansour is best known for founding and growing a nursing school in the state. He cites his experience building a successful business, creating jobs, and managing budgets as preparation for overseeing the state's finances. Priorities for his treasurer campaign include investing responsibly, increasing transparency in state finances, eliminating unnecessary government waste, and ensuring public dollars are managed prudently.
On the Republican side, Arizona State Board of Education President Katherine Haley ran against businessman Elijah Norton. In the end, Norton advanced to the general election with approximately 56% of the vote. Norton built his career in the private sector, founding a finance and insurance business. Norton served as Treasurer of the Arizona Republican Party during the 2024 election cycle, where he was responsible for overseeing party finances, budgeting, reporting, and compliance. His priorities include increasing transparency around government spending, identifying waste and inefficiency, maintaining responsible investment practices, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively. He has also proposed creating a state-level government efficiency initiative focused on reviewing spending and reducing unnecessary costs.
State Legislature
Major money will be flowing into the state as both chambers are considered to be competitive this November with Republicans holding slim majorities. All 30 senate seats and all 60 house seats are on the ballot. Nine senate incumbents and 15 house incumbents did not file for reelection. This includes Senate President Warren Petersen who secured the Republican nomination for attorney general on Tuesday night and Senate Minority Caucus Chair Lela Alston (D) who is retiring following the conclusion of her term.