In the recent Arizona primary, the impact of former President Donald Trump on the Republican Party was clearly visible. His preferred candidates made significant gains in several key races, while Democrats managed to sidestep the chaos sometimes associated with far-left challenges in one of their House contests.
The biggest news of the night was arguably Mr. Trump’s influence, as his endorsed candidates performed notably well throughout the ballot. Representative Andy Biggs, a past chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and a Trump-endorsed candidate, easily secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination, defeating Representative David Schweikert and other contenders by over 50 points.
Additionally, former NFL kicker Jay Feeley, who garnered Trump’s “full and complete support” just before the primary, also triumphed in Arizona’s competitive 1st Congressional District.
Biggs’ success sets the stage for an essential general election battle against Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who ran unopposed in her primary. Hobbs, a previous Arizona secretary of state, narrowly beat then-Republican candidate Kari Lake four years ago and is now preparing to again face one of Trump’s most well-known supporters.
The race for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, won by Feeley, is particularly noteworthy as Schweikert vacated the seat to run for governor, thus creating an open-seat contest in this suburban district.
The Phoenix region, which includes parts of northeast Maricopa County, encompasses many affluent areas like Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills. Feeley will head into the general election expected to battle former state Representative Amish Shah, who had a nearly 9-point lead as of early Wednesday morning. However, the Associated Press had not yet officially called the race by that time.
Mark Lamb, another Trump-endorsed candidate, took the Republican primary for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, a solidly Republican seat that Biggs is leaving for the governor’s race. Lamb, who aligned his campaign with a hard-line stance on border issues and a platform of “God, family and freedom,” enters the general election with a favorable outlook, despite some earlier allegations regarding inappropriate messages.
In Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, Democratic Representative Greg Stanton narrowly defeated progressive challenger Kai Newkirk, avoiding what could have been a damaging upset for Democrats. This race served as a litmus test for whether progressive energy could resonate within Arizona like it has in other regions. Stanton’s win provided a momentary relief for establishment Democrats, who have faced mounting pressures from progressive movements on issues like healthcare and corporate influence.
