IN FOCUS - July 24, 2026

That didn’t take long.

Not even 24 hours following Tuesday’s Primary Election, Governor Katie Hobbs’ campaign released an attack ad against GOP challenger Andy Biggs. The 30-second spot is in reference to his co-sponsorship of the 2025 FairTax Act, which would institute a 23% federal sales tax in place of federal income, payroll and gift taxes.

The Hobbs campaign spent millions before the Primary on positive bio spots, enabling her and progressive independent groups to now go negative on her Republican rival. A longer, digital ad from Team Hobbs hints at future angles of attack against Biggs.

Biggs, meanwhile, has a new, introductory ad of his own that depicts him as a protector of children and families, and boasts of his past collaboration with Senator John McCain. The two campaigns have roughly the same amount of cash-on-hand, so the winner of the air war may be determined by which side receives more outside support from the national parties, PACs and other groups.

Among statewide Republicans who’ve advanced to the General Election, only State Treasurer Kimberly Yee has ever run (and won) statewide. That leaves little time for Senate President Warren Petersen (running for Attorney General), state Rep. Alex Kolodin (Secretary of State) or businessman Elijah Norton (Treasurer) to get up to speed and introduce themselves to the electorate. Additionally - with the exceptions of the open Treasurer’s office and now-open SPI race - these Republicans are matched up against an incumbent Democrat.

Democrats have their own challenges, beginning with voter registration numbers that still lean to the right. Continuing a trend seen in recent cycles, national issues figure to heavily influence each of these statewide races - especially, President Trump’s popularity, the state of the economy and affordability, and the war with Iran.