Arizona primaries test GOP unity and Democratic fractures ahead of November
As voters head to the polls on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, the outcomes will determine nominees for key seats that could influence control of the US House of Representatives and the governor’s mansion.
Arizona voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, for primary elections that will shape the state’s political trajectory and potentially influence the balance of power in the US House of Representatives. With polls opening at 6am local time (13:00 GMT) and closing at 7pm (02:00 GMT on Wednesday), the contest involves selecting nominees for the governor’s race, all 30 state Senate seats, all 60 state House seats, and several congressional districts. The state’s electorate comprises approximately 4.3 million registered voters, including 1.5 million Republicans, 1.2 million Democrats, and 1.5 million independents or unaffiliated voters.
The most significant contest is the Republican primary for governor, where four candidates are vying to challenge Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in November. Hobbs, seeking a second term, is one of only two Democratic governors running for re-election in states that Donald Trump carried in 2024. The race has largely narrowed to a showdown between Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, two former congressmen representing divergent visions for the party. Biggs, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, holds Trump’s endorsement and has aligned his campaign closely with the former president’s agenda, including his role in challenging the certification of the 2020 election results.
Schweikert, who is now running for governor after previously holding an open congressional seat, positions himself as a more pragmatic conservative. He argues that the Republican Party has lost ground in Arizona by nominating candidates perceived as too extreme. His departure from Congress has opened the 1st Congressional District, a competitive seat covering Scottsdale and northeastern Phoenix. Republicans are choosing between state Representative Joseph Chaplik, former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who holds Trump’s endorsement, and technology executive John Trobough. On the Democratic side, doctor and former state Representative Amish Shah is competing against former news anchor Marlene Galan-Woods, who is backed by the national party.
Tensions within the Democratic Party regarding US support for Israel and the war in Gaza are evident in several congressional primaries. In the 4th Congressional District, incumbent Greg Stanton faces a primary challenge from progressive candidate Kai Newkirk, who has criticised Stanton’s strong support for Israel. Stanton, who has received approximately $322,000 in donations linked to pro-Israel groups according to Track AIPAC, recently voted against restricting US military aid to Israel. Meanwhile, in the 3rd Congressional District, Representative Yassamin Ansari has shifted her stance, becoming a critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and withdrawing support from pro-Israel advocacy groups.
Other notable races include the 6th Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani faces Democrat JoAnna Mendoza in November. Both candidates are unopposed in the primary and are expected to contest one of the Democrats’ best opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat. With more than 755,000 ballots already cast before election day, results are expected to emerge as mail-in ballots are processed, with most races becoming clearer in the first few hours of counting after polls close at 7pm.
