Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) won reelection on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5) with 56.3% of the vote to Biggs’s 42%, according to the Associated Press. The results were called by CBS News at 3:20 a.m. local time, with 75% of precincts reporting.
The outcome solidifies Hobbs’s position as the state’s top executive after a contentious campaign marked by policy disputes and election-related controversies. Biggs, a five-term congressman and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who carried Arizona by five points in the 2024 presidential election. Hobbs first won the governorship in 2022 by a narrow margin of 17,000 votes.
Key Results and Turnout
Hobbs’s victory extends her tenure in a state that has become a perennial battleground in national elections. The Associated Press reported that 56.3% of voters cast ballots in her favor, while Biggs received 42%, based on early returns. The race had been closely watched after polling suggested a tighter contest heading into Election Day.
Turnout in Arizona’s gubernatorial race has historically been high in recent cycles, reflecting the state’s growing political significance. The 2020 presidential election in Arizona was decided by just 0.3%, or 16,000 votes, further underscoring the state’s role as a swing state.
Policy Disputes and Campaign Themes
The campaign featured sharp contrasts on policy, with both candidates staking out distinct visions for Arizona’s future. Hobbs, who served as Arizona’s secretary of state during the 2020 election, emphasized her experience in election administration and bipartisan collaboration. During her term, she has issued over 100 vetoes in her first year alone, earning the nickname the “veto queen” from Republicans. She has highlighted bills she worked on with GOP legislators as evidence of her ability to bridge divides.
Biggs, meanwhile, campaigned on a platform of fiscal conservatism and government efficiency. He proposed creating a Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, with plans to fund it in part by cutting Arizona’s 2.5% income tax. He also advocated for establishing an Arizona border czar and a special task force to address the fentanyl overdose epidemic. Additionally, Biggs pledged to sign legislation that Hobbs had vetoed, including bills to expand school choice, tighten penalties for fentanyl crimes, and ban the use of federal welfare benefits to purchase soda.
Biggs’s campaign also leaned into election-related themes, given his role in the 2020 election aftermath. He was among the members of Congress who challenged the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021, and was subpoenaed by the now-defunct House January 6 select committee over his alleged involvement in efforts to bring protesters to Washington and persuade state officials that the election had been stolen. He has refused to acknowledge Hobbs’s 2022 victory, though no evidence of widespread fraud has been substantiated.
Legislative Gridlock and Vetoes
Hobbs has governed with a Republican-controlled legislature, a dynamic that has shaped her tenure. She has frequently used her veto power, including 88 vetoes in a single day earlier this year, according to reporting. Among the bills she rejected were measures to increase sex offender notification requirements, loosen vaccine mandates for college students, and create tougher penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.
Republicans have criticized her use of the veto pen, framing it as an obstruction of conservative priorities. Hobbs, however, has defended her actions as necessary to protect Arizona’s laws and residents, arguing that some proposals would have unintended consequences.
What Comes Next
With Hobbs’s reelection secured, she will continue to serve as governor through at least 2026. Her second term will likely focus on navigating the state’s ongoing challenges, including border security, economic policy, and healthcare, while managing a legislature still controlled by Republicans. Biggs, meanwhile, will return to his role in the U.S. House, where he has been a prominent voice in conservative circles.
The election results also carry implications for Arizona’s role in future national races, given the state’s status as a key swing state in presidential elections.