A new poll shows a possible shift in power that could unseat Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs and potentially see Republicans regain control of the Arizona Governor’s office.
The poll was conducted by Kreate Strategies and commissioned by American Encore. It found that likely voters in the Arizona gubernatorial race prefer Congressman Andy Biggs over Gov. Hobbs in a head-to-head matchup by one point. Karrin Taylor Robson trails the Democrat incumbent in a head-to-head matchup by 2 points.
Notably, Biggs significantly closes the gap among No Party Preference (NPP) voters with only 13% undecided, while the matchup between Robson and Hobbs leaves a wide swath of undecided voters at 22%.
Congressman Biggs was also viewed more favorably than Hobbs and Robson with 42% finding him favorable versus Hobbs with 41% and Robson with 28%. The poll also indicated that Robson may be suffering from a lack of name recognition compared to her more prominent opponents.
In a statement to AZ Free News, American Encore President Sean Noble said, “This poll shows that Congressman Andy Biggs is the best positioned to recapture the Governor’s office for Republicans in 2026. We already know that it will be a challenging cycle with it being a mid-term for President Trump, so it is critical for Republican primary voters to nominate the candidate who has the best chance to beat Hobbs and be ready to go on day one. Andy Biggs is that candidate.”
When polled on whether Arizona is on the right or wrong track, the likely voters delivered a stern rebuke to Hobbs, which Noble said highlighted her vulnerability in the upcoming election.
Above all, the race for Governor in 2026 is shaping up to be a hotly contested election, with Biggs showing a massive early advantage in the primary over Robson, and Hobbs sitting in a precarious position.
Full poll available here. Crosstabs available here.
Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs announced on Saturday to the Arizona Republican Party’s 2025 Statutory Meeting that, following his “Statement of Interest” to run against Democrat incumbent Governor Katie Hobbs, he is formally running for Governor of Arizona.
Biggs addressed the body, which re-elected AZGOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda, and made the announcement. Footage shared to X by Activist Nico Delgado captured the moment when Biggs told meeting attendees, “I am jumping in formally to the race for governor in 2026. Thank you.”
BREAKING: Congressman Andy Biggs officially announces that he is running for Governor of Arizona pic.twitter.com/veM2R9n1Zy
“I am jumping in formally,” he said. “It is now time to Make Arizona Great Again,” according to AZ Capitol Times. The outlet noted that Biggs first asked the party leaders if he should get a haircut before asking if they would support his bid for the 9th Floor.
In a follow up post to X later in the day, Biggs wrote, “It’s time to Make Arizona Great Again! I am excited to be in the race for Governor and look forward to serving all Arizonans! Sign my petition at http://biggsforarizona.com!”
It’s time to Make Arizona Great Again! I am excited to be in the race for Governor and look forward to serving all Arizonans!
In an exclusive AZ Free News poll conducted by Data Orbital, Biggs is dominating early polling with 31.7%, a commanding 19.3 point lead over Karrin Taylor Robson. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee trailed with 7.4%
A new poll shows @repandybiggs with a big lead over other potential GOP opponents in the 2026 race for AZ governor. The results saw Biggs take an early polling lead with 31.7%, Taylor Robson who had 12.4% support, & Yee trailed with 7.4% support.https://t.co/jlR5VXRdlU
A subsequent poll released by NicoPAC covered 512 Registered Voters in Arizona “weighed for race, age and gender following a mix of voter registration data, past election data from the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, and the ACS.” It saw Biggs take 58.5% with Taylor Robson dropping behind Yee at 8.8%, and the Arizona Treasurer climbing to double digits with 10.8%.
Biggs’ announcement was followed by Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk and was later supported by former his former congressional colleague Matt Gaetz.
In an interview with Steve Bannon’s War Room on Rumble prior to the formal announcement, Congressman Eli Crane also offered his tacit endorsement of Biggs telling Bannon, “I think Andy is the most conservative and probably the strongest member of the U.S. House. He was also President of the Senate in Arizona. He knows Arizona. He knows how the system works better than anybody. I don’t think anybody would do a better job. You know, he has my full support, and I know he has the support of the War Room Posse… I hope he pulls the trigger and goes all the way through with it.”
WATCH:
Former Arizona State Representative Austin Smith also shared his support in a lengthy post to X, writing in part that Arizonans “won’t have a revolving door of contract lobbyists on the 9th Floor deciding what legislation is signed and needs to be vetoed.”
Why @andybiggs4az is the right choice for Republicans in Arizona for 2026:
– effective, reliable and bonafide conservative vote in Congress.
– had the courage to vacate the chair during a do-nothing speakership.
A new poll shows Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) with a big lead over other potential GOP opponents in the 2026 race for Arizona governor.
Biggs announced that he filed a letter of interest to run for governor earlier this week.
The poll, conducted by Data Orbital and sponsored by AZ Free News, was taken between Jan. 18-20. It asked 500 Likely Republican Primary Election voters to choose between likely AZ GOP candidates for governor: Biggs, Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, and Karrin Taylor Robson.
The results saw Biggs take an early polling lead with 31.7%, a definitive 19.3% advantage over Taylor Robson (who had 12.4% support). Yee trailed in single digits with 7.4% support. The poll had a 4.47% margin for error.
In a statement to AZ Free News, Data Orbital President George Khalaf said, “Congressman Andy Biggs has a commanding lead over potential opponents Karrin Taylor Robson and Treasurer Kimberly Yee, bolstered by his extensive history of earned media and established public leadership. His support is particularly robust among self-identified strong conservatives, capturing 45% of this key demographic.”
“These voters, who are historically the most reliable participants in primary elections, position Congressman Biggs with a significant early advantage should he choose to formally jump into the race,“ concluded Khalaf.
Conversely, in the demographic of younger voters aged 18-34, Kimberly Yee enjoyed the most support. But among independent voters, arguably the most decisive factor in the 2024 presidential election win for Donald Trump, Biggs captured 23.1% support followed by Taylor Robson at 11.7%.
The poll also showed that 45% of voters remain undecided and would still be up for grabs, demonstrating the possibility of a wide open race.
Full poll available here. Crosstabs available here.
Mark Lamb signed off ceremonially for the last time as Pinal County Sheriff shortly after midnight on New Years’ Day, ending an eight-year tenure as the top elected law-enforcement official of the county.
In a post to X, accompanying video of his broadcast to the department, Lamb announced that his career in law-enforcement has come to an end. He wrote, “It’s impossible to sum up in one post how I feel tonight! I knew this day would eventually come, but it still doesn’t make it easy. I have loved this career! Thank you does not even begin to justify my gratitude to my family, my command staff, all of the sheriff’s office employees, all of my fellow law enforcement and to my community. This has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life, especially the last eight years as Sheriff of Pinal County. Not only is 2024 coming to an end tonight, my career (in) Law Enforcement has come to an end as well. We gave it a good run! God Bless and Happy New Year!”
It’s impossible to sum up in one post how I feel tonight! I knew this day would eventually come, but it still doesn’t make it easy. I have loved this career! Thank you does not even begin to justify my gratitude to my family, my command staff, all of the sheriffs office… pic.twitter.com/1PjgpO0v7Q
Lamb opened his transmission identifying himself by the Sheriff’s callsign ‘Pinal One,’ and offered his emotional thanks to county dispatchers, deputies, corrections officers, employees, posses, COPs and his command staff. He closed his remarks by asking dispatch to show him as the police-standard ‘ten-code’ of 10-7 “Out of service,” which typically signifies the end of an officer’s watch or shift, for the final time.
Former gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson thanked Lamb and congratulated him in a statement posted to X, “Arizonans are safer for the work and dedication Sheriff Lamb has put in to defend our communities the last 8 years. In addition to all of the work he’s done, he’s been one of the top advocates in the country for dealing with the problems on our border and been a strong advocate for border security. Thank you, @sherifflamb1, for everything you have done and do on behalf of the people of Arizona!”
Arizonans are safer for the work and dedication Sheriff Lamb has put in to defend our communities the last 8 years.
In addition to all of the work he’s done, he’s been one of the top advocates in the country for dealing with the problems on our border and been a strong advocate… https://t.co/zSxTrBTgnX
In a Dec. 17th interview with KTAR’s Mike Broomhead, Lamb dismissed any further political office in his future following his primary election defeat to Kari Lake. “Politics in my future? It’s not a high probability.” He added, “But I am going to stay involved in the border.”
He told Broomhead that he’s currently working with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR): “I’m gonna stay very active on [the] border and continue to tell people what’s going on there.”
The former Sheriff told KTAR in a statement that he’s hoping to assist the incoming Trump administration in its ongoing efforts to improve border security.
“As this administration begins to form itself out, and they start getting to work and starting to secure our border, holding people accountable who broke the law, I think that there will be some space there to at least consult, or help or sit on some boards or something that has to do with helping these policies,” Lamb said.
He told the outlet that he’s also willing to bring policy suggestions to Congress and work with them to pass more effective laws to address illegal immigration.
“I hope to be of some assistance as we try to fix this border crisis that this administration has created — or really, thrown gas on — over the last four years,” Lamb concluded. “I’m gonna stay in that law enforcement space, mental health space and border security.”
Former gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson responded to a report from 12News’ Braham Resnick about the ‘Future Freedoms PAC’ pumping money into Arizona elections to turn the legislature blue. Her answer? Join her Arizona PAC.
Taylor Robson stressed that if successful in gaining control of the Arizona legislature, the Democrats would “turn Arizona into a place none of us recognize,” citing “Higher Taxes,” “More Regulations,” “Open Borders,” and “Rising Crime.”
She added, “This is not what Arizonans stand for, and I will keep fighting to protect the state we know & love.”
The Left will stop at nothing to turn Arizona into a place none of us recognize:
The Arizona PAC, launched in 2023, lists Taylor Robson and Tucson philanthropist Jim Click of the Click family of car dealerships as the committee’s leadership. According to the website, the purpose of the PAC is that “to maintain and grow the Republican majorities in the Arizona legislature.”
The PAC wrote:
“Arizona has benefited from decades of conservative leadership and conservative policies. Arizona is a business-friendly, pro-family state that has grown due to a low-tax, low regulatory environment. Thanks to conservative governance, Arizona’s workers have the right to work and our families have the right to choose the best education options for our children.
These priorities and others are at risk if we allow far left policies to take over. Arizona’s legislature is a target of big out-of-state interests hoping to turn Arizona bright blue and make our state the next California with high taxes, high barriers to opportunity and government involvement in all aspects of our lives.”
Taylor Robson was defeated in the 2022 gubernatorial primary election by Kari Lake. Lake went on to be defeated in a highly contested election by Democrat Katie Hobbs with the results of the election marred by litigation for months afterword. Since facing off against Lake, Taylor Robson in turn endorsed both Lake and President Donald Trump following the August primary going into the 2024 elections.
In an interview with the New York Post, she told critics of her endorsement, “It’s a binary choice. It’s Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. You look at the conservative and Republican vision for America or the Democrat vision for America, and they’re two completely different visions.” She added, “Take personalities out of it.”
“I do not subscribe at all to Kamala Harris’s vision for America, which is colossal government, growth of the regulatory state, more taxes now, price controls, open borders, chaos in our streets. That is not my vision for America. I want a safe and secure America,” she continued.
Taylor Robson also took aim at Democrat Senatorial nominee Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) saying , “He, like Kamala Harris, is very much remaking themselves from where they are, right? Ruben Gallego was a member of the Progressive Caucus his entire career in Washington until he decided to run for the US Senate.”
