Jan. 6 proponent Andy Biggs is running for Arizona governor
Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona announced Saturday that he is running for governor in 2026.
Biggs, a Jan. 6 proponent and member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, made the announcement at an Arizona Republican Party event, telling the crowd: 'I am jumping in formally. It is now time to Make Arizona Great Again.'
Biggs, who helped Trump in his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, told the conservative outlet Newsmax in an interview on Sunday that Arizona should be 'the reddest state in the country.' His election would certainly be a step toward claiming that title.
Biggs is alleged to have been a key player in the deliberations among MAGA activists, Trump administration officials and far-right lawmakers who devised schemes for overturning Trump's 2020 election. After the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, for example, far-right activist Ali Alexander — who organized the 'stop the steal' rally that preceded the riot — has said Biggs was one of the lawmakers who helped him cook up that day's plan to exert 'maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting' to certify Joe Biden's election victory, though Biggs hasn't been accused of coordinating or promoting the violent attack on the Capitol. (Biggs has denied helping Alexander organize the Jan. 6 rally.)
Video here:
Alexander later testified to the House Jan. 6 committee that he'd been in contact with Biggs and other lawmakers in the lead-up to Jan. 6, 2021, which Biggs had denied. And former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson told the committee Biggs was one of multiple lawmakers who sought a pardon from Trump, which Biggs has also denied.
It's worth noting, however, that Alexander and Hutchinson made their claims under oath, which Biggs does not appear to have done. He refused to comply with a House subpoena to testify as part of the federal Jan. 6 investigation, but has been subpoenaed by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to testify in her ongoing, state-level Jan. 6 probe. There's no indication Mayes is pursuing criminal charges against Biggs, and it's unclear whether he has testified.
The representative celebrated Trump's blanket pardon for Jan. 6 criminals, even greeting some of the recently released inmates and their supporters at a Washington, D.C., jail last week.
Biggs is the only Republican to declare his candidacy in the governor's race thus far. Barring a successful primary challenge, he is likely to face Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs next year.This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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San Francisco Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
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The Hill
40 minutes ago
- The Hill
G7 leaders gather in Canada for summit overshadowed by Middle East crisis and Trump's tariffs
BANFF, Alberta (AP) — Leaders of some of the world's biggest economic powers will arrive in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of Seven summit overshadowed by a widening war across the Middle East and U.S. President Donald Trump's unresolved trade war with allies and rivals alike. Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world as Trump seeks to withdraw the U.S. from its role as world policeman. Speaking on a flight to Canada to attend the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the situation with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders. Britain is sending Royal Air Force jets and other military reinforcements to the Middle East. 'We do have longstanding concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. 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Starmer's attempts to woo Trump have left him in an awkward position with Canada, the U.K.'s former colony, close ally and fellow Commonwealth member. Starmer has also drawn criticism — especially from Canadians — for failing to address Trump's stated desire to make Canada the 51st state. Asked if he has told Trump to stop the 51st state threats, Starmer told The Associated Press: 'I'm not going to get into the precise conversations I've had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.' The war in Ukraine will be on the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to attend the summit and is expected to meet with Trump, a reunion coming just months after their bruising Oval Office encounter which laid bare the risks of having a meeting with the U.S. president. Starmer met with Carney in Ottawa before the summit for talks focused on security and trade, in the first visit to Canada by a British prime minister for eight years. German officials were keen to counter the suggestion that the summit would be a 'six against one' event, noting that the G7 countries have plenty of differences of emphasis among themselves on various issues. 'The only the problem you cannot forecast is what the president of the United States will do depending on the mood, the need to be in the news,' said Chrétien. ____ Lawless contributed to this report from Ottawa, Ontario. AP reporters Josh Boak in Calgary, Alberta, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Nicole Winfield in Rome also contributed to this report.
