Rep. David Schweikert joins Trump-backed candidates in GOP primary for Arizona governor

PHOENIX (AP) — Rep. David Schweikert jumped into the Republican primary for Arizona governor Tuesday, joining an already-crowded field that includes two Donald Trump-backed candidates and raising Democratic hopes for flipping his seat in Congress.

Schweikert’s consultant Chris Baker confirmed his candidacy to The Associated Press in a text Tuesday.

Schweikert will square off against lobbyist and housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson and U.S. House Freedom Caucus member Andy Biggs. Both support Trump’s agenda, and the president has given both his endorsement.

Schweikert has been less vocal in his support for the administration but also hasn’t publicly antagonized Trump. His 1st Congressional District, one of the wealthiest in the country, has become increasingly competitive during his 15 years in Congress as many moderately conservative, college-educated voters turned against the GOP since Trump took over the party.

Democrats are eying the seat representing suburban Phoenix as a top pickup target in next year’s midterms.

Though Republicans enjoy a registration advantage in the 1st District, Schweikert only narrowly staved off Democratic challengers. He won reelection in 2022 by less than one percentage point against a relatively unknown Democrat who received minimal support from national Democrats. In 2024, Schweikert defeated emergency room doctor and former state lawmaker Amish Shah by 3.8 percentage points.

Schweikert repeatedly has been dogged by violations of campaign finance laws, for which he was fined in 2020 and 2022.

Schweikert has focused his congressional career on sounding the alarm about the federal budget deficit and the ballooning U.S. debt, often in late-night speeches to a nearly empty House chamber and bleary-eyed C-SPAN viewers. Still, he voted for Trump’s budget bill that is projected to add trillions to the debt over the next decade, a vote that Democrats are criticizing.

Schweikert’s bid for the state’s highest office complicates Republican efforts to hold onto their razor-thin House majority.

It also puts a squeeze on Taylor Robson. She narrowly lost the 2022 GOP primary to Kari Lake — who went on to lose the general election — and has generally been the pick of the same establishment Republicans whose support Schweikert will be chasing. Biggs, who represents a safely Republican district, is the former Freedom Caucus chairman and is seen as a favorite of the party’s hard-right grassroots.

Whoever wins the GOP primary will likely face off against Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who has no serious primary challengers.