2026 Elections: Arizona Republican Congressman Andy Biggs files statement of interest for governor's race
PHOENIX - The 2024 election concluded some time ago, but some politicians are already looking forward to races in 2026.
According to the Arizona Secretary of State's website, Congressman Andy Biggs has filed what is known as a "Statement of Interest" for the governorship.
Per the statement of interest, Biggs declared his interest to seek the Republican Party gubernatorial nomination during the 2026 primaries, which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 4 of that year.
Who is Andy Biggs?
The backstory:
Per his biography on the House of Representatives' website, Biggs served in the Arizona State Legislature for 14 years prior to his stint as Congressman.
Currently, Biggs represents Arizona's 5th Congressional District, which covers a portion of the East Valley and Far East Valley, including Apache Junction, Queen Creek, and San Tan Valley.
The Arizona Secretary of State's website did not show any statements of interest filed by a Republican for Biggs' current Congressional seat, including from Biggs himself.
What they're saying:
Biggs announced his filing of a statement of interest for the governorship in a post made to X (formerly Twitter).
"Arizona has a bright future but will need strong leadership to reach its full potential," a portion of the statement reads. "I look forward to conversing with my fellow Arizonans as I consider this weighty decision."
Big picture view:
Biggs is not the only Republican to have filed a State of Interest for a gubernatorial campaign. As of Jan. 21, there are three other Republicans who have submitted statements of interest: Christopher Ames, Scott Neely, and George Nicholson.
No Democrats have filed a statement of interest for the seat as of Jan. 21, including incumbent governor Katie Hobbs, who is still eligible for one more term in office.
What is a statement of interest?
On the Arizona Secretary of State's website, it states that filing a state of interest indicates that a person is collecting petition signatures for a possible nomination, but it does not amount to a formal declaration of candidate, as that requires the filing of a nomination paper.
What they're saying:
"Filing a Statement of Interest also does not mean that a candidate will appear on the ballot for a particular election," read a portion of the website.
What offices are on the ballot in 2026?
In November 2026, voters will vote for a governor, a secretary of state, a state treasurer, a superintendent of public instruction, and a state mine inspector.
Voters will also get to vote for members of the Arizona State Legislature, as well as members of the House of Representatives. None of Arizona's two U.S. Senate seats are up for election in 2026.
In addition to the offices listed above, voters will also select a Lieutenant Governor, the candidates for which will run on a joint ticket with a gubernatorial candidate. The post was established after voters approved Proposition 131 in 2022.