Politics in Arizona never really sleeps. It just kinda reloads. Even though the last big election cycle feels like it just wrapped up, everyone is already looking at 2026. The governor’s mansion—the Ninth Floor, as locals call it—is going to be the center of a massive political storm.
We’ve got an incumbent who has spent her term vetoing more bills than almost anyone in history. We have a Republican field that’s already getting crowded. Honestly, it’s going to be a wild ride. If you're wondering who is running for governor in Arizona 2026, the list is officially starting to take shape.
The incumbent: Katie Hobbs wants four more years
Governor Katie Hobbs is not going anywhere. She officially filed her statement of interest to run for reelection in late 2025. You’ve probably seen her in the news lately, leaning hard into issues like housing affordability and border security—topics that usually get owned by the other side of the aisle.
She’s sitting on a pretty decent mountain of cash. Reports show she’s already raised millions.
Hobbs has spent a lot of her first term acting as a "veto stamp" for the Republican-controlled legislature. Her supporters love her for it, seeing her as the only thing standing between Arizona and some pretty extreme policies. Her critics? Well, they call her an obstructionist. Either way, she’s the undisputed leader of the Arizona Democratic Party right now. There’s no serious primary challenger on the horizon for her, which gives her a massive head start to focus on the general election while the Republicans fight it out.
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The Republican heavyweights: A three-way cage match
This is where things get interesting. Sorta messy, too. As of right now, three big names are officially in the mix for the GOP nomination.
Andy Biggs
Congressman Andy Biggs is a huge name in the East Valley. He’s been a staple in the Freedom Caucus and is basically the "gold standard" for the MAGA wing of the party. He jumped into the race early and has been leading in most of the early polling. According to an Emerson College poll from late 2025, Biggs was sitting at about 50% support among Republican primary voters. That’s a massive lead. He’s leaning heavily into his loyalty to Donald Trump and his hardline stance on immigration. For a lot of GOP primary voters, that’s exactly what they want to hear.
Karrin Taylor Robson
You might remember her from 2022. She lost a bruising primary to Kari Lake back then. This time, things are different. She actually has an endorsement from Donald Trump—something she didn’t have last time. She’s a wealthy businesswoman and attorney with deep ties to the "establishment" wing of the party, but she’s working hard to bridge that gap with the populist side. She’s already put a couple million of her own money into the race.
David Schweikert
Schweikert was a late addition to the field, jumping in around September 2025. He’s another sitting Congressman, representing a very competitive district in the Phoenix area. He’s known for being a "numbers guy"—obsessed with the federal debt and economics. He doesn't have the same fire-breathing rhetoric as Biggs, which might help him with suburban voters in a general election, but it makes the primary a tough climb.
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Who else is on the radar?
Aside from the big three, there’s a whole list of people who have filed paperwork or are "seriously considering" a jump.
- William Pounds: Running as a Green Party candidate. He’s a streamer and recording artist who ran before.
- Leezah Sun: Running as an Independent. She’s a former state representative with a... let's say complicated history in the legislature.
- The "Paperwork" Crowd: There are about a dozen other names like Scott Neely (who ran in 2022) and Alan White who have filed initial documents. Most of these are long shots, but they can definitely play spoiler in a tight primary.
One person you won't see on the ballot for Governor? Kimberly Yee. The State Treasurer, who is usually a massive vote-getter in Arizona, decided to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction instead. That was a bit of a shocker to political insiders who thought she was the GOP's best chance to take back the governorship.
Why this race is actually a toss-up
If you look at the early numbers, it’s a dead heat. In a hypothetical matchup between Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs, polls show them within one or two percentage points of each other.
It basically comes down to what people care about more on election day.
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When voters are asked about the economy, they tend to lean slightly toward Hobbs or stay undecided. When the conversation shifts to the border, Biggs and the Republicans blow the doors off. Arizona is the ultimate "purple" state now. It’s not the Republican stronghold it was in the John McCain days, but it’s definitely not a blue state either.
Actionable insights for Arizona voters
If you’re trying to keep track of this mess, here’s how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Check the Filing Deadlines: The official deadline to file nomination papers is April 6, 2026. Until that day passes, the "official" list of candidates is still subject to change.
- Follow the Money: In Arizona, you can use the Secretary of State’s SeeTheMoney portal to see who is actually funding these campaigns. If a candidate is only getting money from out-of-state PACs, that tells you one thing. If they have thousands of small $25 donations from Mesa and Tucson, that tells you something else.
- The Lieutenant Governor Factor: For the first time ever, Arizona candidates will run with a running mate for the new position of Lieutenant Governor. This is a huge deal. Who Hobbs or Biggs picks as their "VP" could totally change the math for swing voters.
- Watch the Primary Date: The primary is August 4, 2026. Because Arizona has a lot of independent voters who can choose which primary to vote in, the GOP primary might actually be decided by people who aren't even Republicans.
Keep an eye on the suburbs. Maricopa County usually decides everything here. If the Republican nominee is too "fringe" for the Scottsdale and Gilbert moms, Hobbs likely glides to a second term. If the Republican can keep it focused on the cost of eggs and gas, we might see a moving truck at the Ninth Floor come January 2027.