Representative Andy Biggs won the Republican nomination for governor of Arizona on Tuesday, securing a decisive primary victory over fellow US Representative David Schweikert. With a strong endorsement from President Donald Trump, Biggs built a commanding lead in early election night returns, garnering 71.6 percent of the vote compared to Schweikert's 15.6 percent with 65 percent of precincts reporting. Biggs will advance to the November midterm general election to challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who ran unopposed in her primary and is seeking a second term.
The primary results also set the field for key congressional battlegrounds, including the race to fill the open seat in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, which Schweikert vacated to run for governor. Jay Feely, a former professional football player in the National Football League backed by Trump, secured the Republican nomination with 49.4 percent of the vote with 69 percent of precincts counted, defeating state Representative Joseph Chaplik. Feely will face Democratic nominee Amish Shah, a physician and former state lawmaker who won the Democratic primary with 42.0 percent of the vote after narrowly losing the general election for the seat two years ago.
In Arizona's 5th Congressional District, former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb won the Republican nomination to contest the seat being vacated by Biggs. Endorsed by Trump, Lamb defeated challenger Daniel Keenan 58.7 percent to 41.3 percent with 68 percent of ballots counted. Lamb will face Democratic nominee Elizabeth Lee in November, who won her three-way primary contest with 64.5 percent of the vote with 72 percent of precincts reporting.
