Representative Andy Biggs, a staunch ally of US President Donald Trump, has won the Republican nomination for Arizona governor, securing a spot in what is expected to be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in November.

Biggs overwhelmingly defeated fellow House member David Schweikert in Tuesday's primary election. He will now face Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in a contest that could be one of the closest governor races of the midterm elections.

Arizona, once a Republican stronghold, has swung between parties in recent elections. Former Democratic President Joe Biden won the state in 2020, while Trump reclaimed it in 2024. Currently, Democrats hold both of Arizona's US Senate seats and the top three state offices.

By choosing Biggs—who supported Trump's failed attempt to block certification of the 2020 election results and is a former head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus—Republican voters risk nominating another conservative who excites the party base but may fail to win in November by alienating independents.

Biggs celebrated his win with a small crowd of supporters, saying, "Let's make this the year that we turn Arizona red again." He rejected claims by Schweikert that he would be seen as too extreme, stating, "I am a conservative and a principled conservative, but I work with people that don't necessarily agree with me on every issue."

Meanwhile, Democrats are locked in a close primary contest, with former state Representative Amish Shah leading against party-backed Marlene Galan-Woods. The outcome will shape the general election dynamics in this battleground state.

Source: www.aljazeera.com