Latest news with #KarrinTaylorRobson
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Biggs says he'll push for immediate changes on education, elections, and the border
The Brief The Republican race for governor is already up and running. Andy Biggs held a rally on May 31 at the Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. Republican challenger Karrin Taylor Robson leads Biggs in a latest poll among GOP voters. PHOENIX - MAGA supporters are getting behind Andy Biggs, who is running to be the Republican candidate for Arizona governor in 2026. On May 31, he held a town hall with Turning Point Action at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. What we know Biggs, who currently represents the state's 5th Congressional District, made his case to be Arizona's next governor and discussed pushing for immediate changes to education, elections, and the border. "I've already talked to somebody who I believe will be a great border czar. So Arizona will have the strongest border security in the nation. We're going to work with our sheriffs, our tribes, our local law enforcement officers, our magnificent DPS.. and we will prevent the cartels from their evil human child and drug trafficking, which is a destructive plague in Arizona," he said. Biggs already has a Republican challenger, Karrin Taylor Robson. Robson lost the 2022 Republican primary to Kari Lake. We spoke with Mike Noble of Noble Predictive Insights. Their latest survey shows Robson leading Biggs, with 24% of GOP voters choosing her, over 17% for Biggs. "Robson gained since our last poll three months ago. However, it looks like the momentum is in Biggs' favor because [Charlie] Kirk supporters look very similar to Biggs. And also, he may not be getting just an endorsement. He may be getting an army because he brings along a very young demographic and a very digital-savvy demographic," said Noble. Dig deeper But in a head-to-head matchup against Governor Katie Hobbs, both Republicans are still losing ground. Hobbs taking 41% of likely voters against Robson's 39% and 40% for Hobbs against Biggs' 38%. "Hobbs as an incumbent governor, she's definitely not built a fortress around her, but she's not in a bad position either. I'd say she's an above-average position." Noble expects this governor's race to be one of the most competitive races in the country.
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Led by a Vulnerable Governor, Arizona Democrats Brace for a Bumpy Campaign Ahead
Any Democrat trying to win an election in Arizona, most political strategists agree, must do nearly everything right — and still hope for a little luck. By that standard, next year's elections are looking worrisome for Democrats in the Grand Canyon State. Their standard-bearer, Gov. Katie Hobbs, is among the nation's most vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election in 2026. And, rather than bolstering her with vital political muscle and support, the party has been consumed by an acrimonious and seemingly petty feud between the new state Democratic chairman and Arizona's two Democratic senators. In a swing state with around 300,000 more Republicans than Democrats, and where President Trump stormed to victory in November, Ms. Hobbs is also likely to face a more formidable opponent than she did in 2022, when she squeaked out a win against Kari Lake, whose stolen-election lies had alienated voters across the political spectrum. Representative Andy Biggs, a hard-right populist, and Karrin Taylor Robson, a businesswoman from the party's more moderate McCain wing, have entered the G.O.P. primary. Both have been endorsed by Mr. Trump, but their contest is already shaping up as a fierce battle, with die-hard Trump supporters mocking Ms. Robson as having suddenly jumped on the president's bandwagon. If Ms. Hobbs's first task is to consolidate her own support, however, her low-key approach may be holding her back, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic politicians, strategists and their allies in Arizona, many of whom insisted on anonymity to speak candidly. 'It's really hard to win in Arizona as a Democrat, always,' said Andy Barr, a longtime strategist for Democrats in the state. 'Anyone who feels confident is just not living in reality.' While serving as Arizona's secretary of state, Ms. Hobbs, who declined to be interviewed for this article, gained prominence by vocally resisting Mr. Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Running for governor in 2022, though, she took such an under-the-radar approach that it led to hand-wringing by supporters, a perception she was avoiding the news media and a jeering question from Republicans: 'Where's Katie?' In office, Ms. Hobbs — a former social worker who drove for Uber to help pay the bills when she was a state senator — has stuck with that low profile, casting herself as a moderate pragmatist focused on business interests. But she may not have done enough to earn affection from Democrats. She rarely campaigned last year for former Vice President Kamala Harris, opting to focus on down-ballot races. She frustrated the left by vetoing a bipartisan housing bill that would have encouraged more starter homes, saying the legislation would have 'unintended consequences.' She disappointed teachers by failing to clamp down on Arizona's costly private-school voucher program. And, courting moderates, she dismayed immigration activists by backing a migrant detention law signed by Mr. Trump, though she has also vetoed bills that would force cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As immigration rhetoric has shifted rightward, 'Governor Hobbs was not bold in protecting people or opposing that narrative,' said Viri Hernandez, former executive director of Poder in Action, a progressive Arizona group. Echoing others on the left, Ms. Hernandez said she believed the governor and other Democrats were taking an overcautious approach to working-class issues that 'continues to be a failing strategy.' Worse, Ms. Hobbs's bridge-building attempts are short on results, as the Republican-controlled State Legislature has blocked many of her priorities. They stymied Ms. Hobbs's school voucher efforts, and so effectively stonewalled the approval of her appointees to run state agencies that the governor installed them without confirmation, running afoul of the courts. Democrats have been encouraged to see Ms. Hobbs play a little hardball more recently. Exasperated by Republicans' delay in funding a program for disabled people, she threatened in April to veto all other bills until the Legislature funded the program, which it soon did. Indeed, Ms. Hobbs's strongest case for re-election may lie in what she has stopped Republicans from doing: She has rejected hundreds of bills, including legislation that would have legalized gun silencers and treated fetuses as people, shattering records and earning bragging rights as the state's 'Veto Queen.' Ms. Hobbs has other things to brag about, too. Despite rising costs, Arizona's economy is in good shape. Her pro-business attitude has borne fruit: She signed a bill last month allowing a technology company, Axon, to build a local headquarters without voter input, after it had threatened to leave the state. 'It sends a message that Arizona is open for business and we're not gonna let politicians use the government to shut business down,' Ms. Hobbs told a local radio station. A spokesman for the governor, Christian Slater, pointed to other housing bills Ms. Hobbs has signed, as well as actions she has taken to protect the state's water supply, repeal a restrictive abortion ban and combat drug cartels. 'Governor Hobbs is a common-sense leader who will work with anybody, no matter their party, to deliver results for everyday Arizonans,' Mr. Slater said in a statement. A spokesman for her campaign also noted that Ms. Hobbs had never lost an election. If voters continue to sour on Mr. Trump's presidency, Ms. Hobbs could enjoy a favorable national environment for Democrats in 2026. And her team has sought to exploit the natural advantages of incumbency by arranging for her to appear on local radio and television shows with more frequency this year. Still, she is dealing with a fractured state party. Adrian Fontes, the Democrat who succeeded Ms. Hobbs as secretary of state, last year considered challenging her for governor. Both Mr. Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes, who has aggressively opposed Mr. Trump, are viewed as more visible Democratic leaders, and tensions between them and Ms. Hobbs are an open secret. Both declined to comment. The stakes are high, and will only rise: Mr. Fontes, who announced last month that he was instead running for re-election, and Ms. Mayes, also are expected to face tougher re-election opponents. A potentially more damaging conflict broke out into the open this spring within the state party, whose responsibility it is to raise money and help Democrats get elected. Angered by Mr. Trump's victory, Democrats installed a new party chairman: Robert Branscomb, an insurance company owner who had been a vice chair. Mr. Branscomb soon began clashing with staff members over personnel decisions and accused them of sabotaging him by withholding financial documents. Mr. Branscomb, who declined to comment for this article, wrote to party members detailing the infighting and attacking Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, both Democrats, for criticizing one of his staffing choices. He claimed that one of the senators had called him, 'demeaning me and demanding I reverse my decision within 24 hours or 'face consequences.'' 'I will not be coerced, and I will not be silenced,' Mr. Branscomb added. The backlash against him was swift. Some Democrats called on Mr. Branscomb to resign and compiled lists of potential replacements. A statement signed by both senators and the three statewide elected Democrats said Mr. Branscomb had 'lost our trust.' Some joked, darkly, that Mr. Branscomb had accomplished the impossible: uniting the state's constantly bickering Democratic elected officials. But the disarray posed an unwanted distraction for the party as Ms. Hobbs steels for a tough re-election fight. Party infighting 'hurts the vibes,' acknowledged Eric Chalmers, a Democratic political consultant, though he said it ultimately wouldn't make or break anyone's campaign. More infighting could lie ahead when, under a new state law, Ms. Hobbs will choose a running mate who would serve as lieutenant governor if their ticket wins: It is not assured that she would pick a Democrat. John Giles, the Republican former mayor of Mesa, a Phoenix suburb, confirmed that Ms. Hobbs had discussed the role with him last year and told him that he was on her informal shortlist for the job. (A spokesman for Ms. Hobbs, Michael Beyer, said the governor had never initiated a conversation about the role and was noncommittal when the topic came up because it was 'far too early' to think about a running mate.) In an interview, Mr. Giles, who backed Ms. Harris last year, said he was flattered to be considered, but also questioned whether picking a moderate Republican like himself would be of much help if Ms. Hobbs faced Ms. Robson in the general election rather than the far-right Mr. Biggs. 'If it's Karrin Taylor Robson — she's a more moderate candidate, and I don't know,' Mr. Giles said. 'That would be a very competitive race.' Ms. Hobbs's defenders argue that the most consequential factor in her bid for re-election will be how voters perceive her in November 2026. Unlike other Democrats, she has not sought the spotlight as the national party searches for a direction after Mr. Trump's victory. Even the governor's allies acknowledge that she does not often demonstrate the soaring oratory or charismatic appeal that has turned other Democratic governors into political celebrities. But they say that Ms. Hobbs's understated demeanor and eat-your-vegetables approach to governing helps her relate to the average voter. 'She really shines through when she can interact with day-to-day people,' Mr. Slater said, 'because she is such a normal person.'
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2026 Election: Karrin Taylor Robson launches 2nd run for Arizona governor
The Brief Karrin Taylor Robson has announced a run for Arizona governor in 2026. She ran for the Republican Party gubernatorial nomination in 2022, but lost to Kari Lake. PHOENIX - Another Republican has joined the race to be Arizona's next governor. In a post made on X on Feb. 12, Karrin Taylor Robson announced another run for Arizona's highest office. "I am running for Governor so we can defeat radical Katie Hobbs, support President [Donald Trump], lock down the border, and create jobs for Arizona," read a portion of the post, with Robson adding a mention for Trump's X account in the post. Taylor Robson is the second Republican to join the 2026 gubernatorial race. Dig deeper On Jan. 22, we reported that Congressman Andy Biggs filed what is known as a "Statement of Interest" for the governorship. "Arizona has a bright future but will need strong leadership to reach its full potential," a portion of the statement read. "I look forward to conversing with my fellow Arizonans as I consider this weighty decision." On Feb. 6, Rep. Biggs posted a formal announcement of a gubernatorial run on his X account, and asking people to sign his ballot petition. This marks the second time that Taylor Robson has mounted a run for a statewide office. The backstory According to the 2022 official primary election canvass, Taylor Robson is one of five named candidates on that year's Republican Party gubernatorial primary. There were three other write-in candidates listed as Republicans in that election, but all of them received less than 50 votes each. Robson, a lawyer for housing developers, spent millions from her family's vast fortune on her ultimately unsuccessful campaign for governor. She racked up endorsements from prominent establishment Republicans, including then-Gov. Doug Ducey and former Vice President Mike Pence, but lost to Kari Lake. As for Lake, she lost the race to Democrat Katie Hobbs. That election was Lake's first attempt at public office: she ran for the Senate seat that was being vacated by Kyrsten Sinema in 2024, and lost that race to Democrat Ruben Gallego. Democrats Respond Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Robert E. Branscomb II responded to the news, saying, in full: "Wealthy lobbyist and corporate developer Karrin Taylor Robson is more concerned about earning Trump's support than doing what's right for Arizona. Taylor Robson is in for a long, nasty primary fight that will force her to double down on her already extreme positions like criminalizing doctors who perform abortions and gutting funding for Arizona's public schools. Meanwhile, Gov. Hobbs is forgiving medical debt and welcoming hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs to Arizona– things that are actually helping working people. Under my leadership, the Arizona Democratic Party will do everything possible to support Governor Hobbs and her work to move Arizona forward." Arizona voters will decide on a number of races in 2026. Big picture view On a statewide level, elections will be held for the governorship, along with the Secretary of State, State Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and State Mine Inspector. Of the incumbents in each statewide office, only State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is ineligible for reelection due to the state's limit of two consecutive terms. New in this election will be the position of lieutenant governor, which will be elected with the governor on a joint ticket. The post was established after voters approved Proposition 131 in 2022. Voters in each of Arizona's 30 state legislative districts will also select two state representatives and one state senator. Arizona voters will also decide on who will be their next representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 2027 to 2029, as all members of the U.S. House serve two-year terms, and are elected at the same time. Unlike recent elections, however, there will be no races for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, because none of the state's two Senators are at the end of their term by that time. The next U.S. Senate election in Arizona will take place in 2028, when the seat currently held by Democrat Mark Kelly will be up for election.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wednesday's Campaign Round-Up, 2.12.25: Deb Haaland kicks off gubernatorial campaign
Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland made it official this week, launching a gubernatorial campaign in New Mexico. If elected, the Democrat would be the first Native American woman to be elected governor of a state. * In Arizona, Republican businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson launched a gubernatorial campaign, four years after coming up short in a primary race against Kari Lake. In her five-paragraph announcement, Robson mentioned Donald Trump seven times. * In Tennessee, Sen. Bill Hagerty announced that he's running for re-election next year, which was notable in part because of rumors that the Republican senator was eyeing a possible 2026 gubernatorial campaign. * Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell hasn't officially announced his retirement yet, but in Kentucky, his would-be GOP successors are already lining up. In fact, Rep. Andy Barr has reportedly already told party officials about his plans to run for the seat. * On a related note, Republican Rep. Rich McCormick hasn't officially kicked off a U.S. Senate campaign in Georgia, but a member of his team told The Hill this week, 'Of course Dr. McCormick is considering a run for Senate.' * At a GOP donor retreat in Florida over the weekend, Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the current chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said the party is expecting an 'expensive' 2026 cycle. How expensive? According to a Politico report, Scott told attendees the parties would likely spend over '$1 billion combined.' * And former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced this week that he's accepted a teaching position at Harvard University, but he also made clear that he hasn't ruled out a Democratic U.S. Senate campaign next year. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arizona businesswoman launches bid for governor
GOP businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson announced Wednesday she's launching a bid for Arizona governor in 2026, ending speculation over her next moves. 'President Trump is back in the White House, and he means business. Arizona needs a strong governor who will help President Trump lock down our border,' says a narrator in a one-minute ad for Taylor Robson posted on her social platform X account. The ad then cuts to a clip of Trump in Arizona in December saying he would endorse her gubernatorial bid if she ran for the job. The narrator next says 'Karrin Taylor Robson is answering President Trump's call' and touts her as 'Trump-endorsed businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson.' The narrator says she's 'tough as nails on illegal immigration' and 'knows how to create jobs.' This is Taylor Robson's second bid for Arizona governor. She ran before in 2022, losing to Republican Kari Lake in the GOP primary. Lake narrowly lost to Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) that November. Taylor Robson is the second high-profile Republican in Arizona to wade into the 2026 GOP gubernatorial primary. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) took a step last month toward a potential gubernatorial bid, filing a statement of interest in the job. Hobbs could face a primay challenge. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) is mulling a possible bid. Arizona is seen as one of Republicans' best pickup opportunities in 2026, especially since Trump won the state by more than 5 points in November. While the political landscape may benefit Republicans, the party will also have to contend with the traditional headwinds the party in power usually faces during midterm elections. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
