David Schweikert hops into governor’s race, leaving behind swing House seat
Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), currently representing Arizona’s 1st Congressional District and a six-term member of the House, has announced his candidacy for Arizona governor in the 2026 election. By entering the governor’s race, Schweikert is foregoing reelection to his competitive GOP-held House seat, which will now be an open swing district and a key target for Democrats.He will face a tough Republican primary against fellow Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson, both of whom have received endorsements from former President Donald Trump. Schweikert’s campaign will test the influence of Trump’s endorsements in a potentially close GOP primary.
Schweikert argues that Washington is beyond saving but believes Arizona can be turned around. He positions himself as an “actual conservative” candidate who focuses on practical results rather than grievances, and he is skeptical that either Biggs or Robson can defeat Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who won the 2022 election. Although Arizona’s governor’s mansion is currently held by a Democrat, the state’s lean towards Trump in the 2024 presidential election suggests Republicans see the 2026 gubernatorial race as a major opportunity.
Schweikert’s decision to run for governor creates a significant challenge for House Republicans, who must now defend one of their most vulnerable seats to maintain a narrow majority. His exit follows a broader trend of prominent GOP members retiring or seeking higher office,leaving several competitive or open races that could impact party control.
David Schweikert enters Arizona governor’s race, opening swing House seat
Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) is running for governor of Arizona, forgoing a chance for reelection in a competitive GOP toss-up seat in 2026.
The congressman, who has represented Arizona’s 1st District since 2023 but has been in the House since 2010, will join a gubernatorial primary against fellow Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ). President Donald Trump has endorsed two candidates already in the Republican primary, Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson, so Schweikert’s entrance will be a test of how influential Trump’s support can be in a competitive primary.
Whoever wins the GOP race will go on to face Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), who defeated Republican Kari Lake in the 2022 gubernatorial general election. Arizona became an epicenter for GOP challenges to election results that year, but the courts certified that Lake’s claims were unfounded.
Schweikert told Axios that he believes Washington is “unsavable.”
“I do believe Arizona is savable,” Schweikert said.
The six-term congressman told the outlet that he was skeptical Biggs or Robson could win against Hobbs, noting he has a track record of winning a purple district that can translate to results in a purple state.
Schweikert separately told the Washington Post he thinks Republican voters desire an “actual conservative … someone that’s not running on resentment and grievances.”
In 2022, Lake beat out a more centrist candidate in the primary only to lose to the Democratic candidate in the general election. But Trump won Arizona by more than 5 percentage points in 2024, so Hobbs’s governor’s mansion is viewed as a pick-up opportunity for Republicans in 2026.
MAJOR HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLAYERS HEAD FOR THE EXITS, LEAVING GAPS IN THE LOWER CHAMBER
Schweikert’s departure from the House is a blow to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), as congressional Republicans will now need to devote heavy resources to defend a swing seat and hold on to their razor-thin majority in the lower chamber.
So far, the House GOP lawmakers who have already left or plan to retire after this term are leaving behind solid red or likely red seats. Schweikert’s is the second toss-up race, listed by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, to become open, giving Democrats a chance to flip the seat without the presence of an incumbent. The first was Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who has expressed similar sentiments that the chaos of the House is factoring into his retirement.
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