Trump-Backed Candidates Steamroll AZ Primaries, Setting Up November Showdown
President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidates swept Arizona’s most closely watched Republican primary contests Tuesday, demonstrating his continued command of the GOP while setting the stage for consequential battles over the governor’s mansion and control of Congress.
Rep. Andy Biggs secured the Republican nomination for governor after decisively defeating fellow Rep. David Schweikert and two other candidates. Biggs will now challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who faced no opposition in her own primary.
The November 3 election will offer Arizona voters a clear choice between Hobbs’ Democratic administration and an America First conservative who has promised to cooperate closely with President Trump on border security, taxation, public safety, and economic policy.
Biggs previously led the conservative House Freedom Caucus and served as president of the Arizona Senate before entering Congress. His victory confirmed that Arizona Republican voters remain firmly aligned with Trump despite repeated efforts by the political establishment and national media to weaken the president’s influence in the battleground state.
Trump initially endorsed Karrin Taylor Robson before Biggs joined the race. After Biggs announced his candidacy, the president issued a dual endorsement.
“Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH,” Trump said.
Robson was no longer in the race by Tuesday’s primary, leaving Biggs to defeat Schweikert, Ken Miceli, and Scott Neely.
Trump later made his preference for Biggs increasingly apparent during an April appearance in Phoenix.
“I hate to lose him from Congress… but he’ll be a great governor.”
The president’s complete remarks reflected his confidence in Biggs while acknowledging that his departure would cost House Republicans one of their most dependable conservative voices.
Biggs campaigned on securing Arizona’s border, reducing taxes and regulation, strengthening law enforcement, and working with the Trump administration to reverse the consequences of years of weak immigration enforcement.
His nomination sets up a closely watched contest against Hobbs, who narrowly defeated Trump-backed Republican Kari Lake in 2022. Arizona has since remained one of America’s premier political battlegrounds, with both parties competing for its statewide offices and closely divided congressional districts.
Former NFL Kicker Jay Feely Wins Competitive House Primary
Trump also scored a significant victory in Arizona’s open 1st Congressional District, where former NFL kicker and television analyst Jay Feely captured the Republican nomination.
Feely will face Democratic nominee Amish Shah, an emergency physician and former Arizona state representative. Shah defeated Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee-backed candidate Marlene Galán-Woods after the party organization spent heavily attempting to influence the primary.
The district became open when Schweikert left the seat to run for governor.
It includes Scottsdale, northeast Phoenix, Fountain Hills, and Paradise Valley and is expected to be among the most competitive House races in the country. Trump carried the district by slightly more than four percentage points in 2024, while Schweikert defeated Shah by fewer than three points that year.
Feely played 14 seasons in the NFL, including a stint with the Arizona Cardinals, before becoming a sports broadcaster. He has described himself as an America First conservative and has emphasized border enforcement, economic growth, public safety, and parental rights.
Trump initially endorsed Arizona Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda in the race before also backing Feely.
He praised the pair as “Two Highly Respected America First Patriots” and issued another dual endorsement.
“JAY OR GINA WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Republican primary voters ultimately selected Feely, giving Trump another endorsed winner in a contest that could help determine which party controls the House in 2027.
The general election will feature an unusual reunion. Feely played for the New York Jets while Shah worked with the organization as a sideline physician. They will now compete against each other for a congressional seat central to both parties’ national strategies.
Mark Lamb Captures Biggs’ Deep-Red House Seat
Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb secured the Republican nomination in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, the reliably conservative seat Biggs is vacating to run for governor.
Lamb defeated construction executive Daniel Keenan after receiving support from Trump and other prominent Republicans. Early returns showed Lamb winning approximately 59 percent of the vote.
Trump strongly reaffirmed his endorsement during the closing weeks of the campaign.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior Mark Lamb… Mark Lamb has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Congressman from Arizona’s 5th Congressional District — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Lamb built his political profile around border enforcement, support for police and military personnel, Second Amendment protections, lower taxes, reduced regulation, and American energy production.
As sheriff of a county situated between the southern border and the Phoenix metropolitan area, Lamb regularly warned that the consequences of illegal immigration and cartel activity extend far beyond communities located directly along the international boundary.
Because the 5th District strongly favors Republicans, Lamb will enter the general election as the favorite to succeed Biggs in Congress.
Ciscomani Advances in Crucial Southern Arizona District
Rep. Juan Ciscomani also advanced from the Republican primary in Arizona’s competitive 6th Congressional District.
Ciscomani did not face a Republican challenger. He will run against Democrat JoAnna Mendoza in November in a district encompassing much of southeastern Arizona and portions of the Tucson metropolitan region.
The district is among the most politically balanced in the state. Ciscomani narrowly secured reelection in 2024 and will again be a top Democratic target as the party attempts to regain control of the House.
Trump’s support gives Ciscomani access to the president’s political organization and base, though the congressman will also need to win independents and more moderate suburban voters in a district where neither party can take victory for granted.
Republican incumbents Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, and Abe Hamadeh were also among the Arizona lawmakers Trump highlighted while campaigning in the state, reinforcing the president’s effort to unite the party behind candidates supporting his national agenda.
Stanton Defeats Socialist Challenger
The Democratic primaries also produced an important result in Arizona’s 4th Congressional District.
Rep. Greg Stanton easily defeated democratic socialist Kai Newkirk, who attempted to make opposition to Israel and criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee central to his campaign.
Stanton’s victory prevented Arizona’s socialist wing from replicating progressive upsets seen elsewhere and suggested that an anti-Israel platform has limits outside the country’s deepest-blue districts.
The result allows Stanton to concentrate on the general election while Democratic leaders continue struggling with a widening ideological divide between establishment incumbents and socialist challengers.
Arizona Remains Central to the National Fight
Tuesday’s results demonstrated Trump’s influence over Arizona Republicans, but the nominees still face demanding general-election campaigns.
Arizona has moved from a reliably Republican state into a genuine battleground. Democrats currently hold the governor’s office, and the state has produced closely divided contests for president, Senate, governor, and Congress during recent election cycles.
Republicans believe border security, inflation, public safety, energy costs, and dissatisfaction with Democratic governance can return the state to conservative control. Democrats will attempt to portray Trump-backed candidates as too conservative for independents and suburban voters.
The governor’s race will be especially consequential.
A Biggs victory would give Republicans control of the executive branch in a border state where immigration enforcement, election administration, taxation, school policy, and public safety remain central concerns.
The Feely-Shah and Ciscomani-Mendoza contests could also help decide control of the House. With the congressional majority narrowly divided, flipping or retaining even one Arizona seat could have national consequences.
Trump celebrated the primary results as a “complete sweep,” and the outcome supports his claim that Republican voters continue to look to him when choosing candidates in contested races.
The victories do not guarantee success in November, but they establish an unmistakable direction for the Arizona GOP.
Republican voters selected candidates committed to stronger borders, lower taxes, public safety, national sovereignty, economic freedom, and cooperation with the Trump White House.
With the general election just over three months away, Arizona will once again become a central battlefield in the fight over America’s political future.