Republican Representative Andy Biggs is trailing Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in a new poll of Arizona's gubernatorial race, according to a survey released this week.
Newsweek has reached out to Biggs and Hobbs' press team for comment via email on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Republican candidate Karrin Taylor Robson, a businesswoman and real estate developer, suspended her campaign, narrowing the field of GOP candidates challenging Hobbs this year. President Donald Trump has endorsed Biggs' gubernatorial run.
Arizona is an important battleground state, and the November election will be closely watched. Hobbs, the incumbent, narrowly defeated Republican and prominent Trump ally Kari Lake in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election, with 50.32 percent to 49.65 percent. It was one of the closest gubernatorial contests in the state's recent history, and Hobbs became the first Democrat to win Arizona's governorship since 2006.
Biggs and Representative David Schweikert will face each other in a July primary. A Center for Excellence in Polling survey of 519 likely voters conducted between January 22 and 24 found Biggs leading Schweikert in the primary, 28 percent to 12 percent.
The poll, which was conducted before Robson dropped out, found her taking 19 percent of the vote. Thirty-three percent of participants said they are unsure of who they would vote for in the primary.
In a hypothetical matchup between Hobbs and Biggs, Hobbs leads with 50 percent support, while Biggs receives 41 percent, according to the survey. Among voters who backed Trump, Biggs drew 76 percent compared with 14 percent for Hobbs. Five percent of respondents said they were unsure, and 3 percent chose another candidate.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social in April: "I like Karrin Taylor Robson of Arizona a lot, and when she asked me to Endorse her, with nobody else running, I Endorsed her, and was happy to do so.
“When Andy Biggs decided to run for Governor, quite unexpectedly, I had a problem -- Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH. Either one will never let you down. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Representative Andy Biggs said in a February 18 X post: "Arizona deserves better than a governor under investigation for a pay-to-play scandal. We MUST defeat Katie Hobbs in November."
Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All, said in a January press release: "Governor Katie Hobbs is a proven fighter for reproductive freedom in Arizona. As Trump and Republicans continue their crusade to gut health care and ban abortion nationwide, Arizonans need a governor who will hold the line and defend their freedoms without hesitation. Katie Hobbs is that governor, and Reproductive Freedom for All is proud to endorse her for reelection."
Governor Katie Hobbs said in a January press release: "I am proud to earn the endorsement of Reproductive Freedom for All, an organization working every day to ensure that decisions about birth control, abortion, and starting a family remain with individuals -- not out-of-touch politicians," said Katie Hobbs. "From day one, I've fought to protect reproductive freedom by repealing Arizona's 1864 total abortion ban, removing barriers to over-the-counter contraception, and helping enshrine the freedom to choose in our state constitution. I will always defend Arizonans' freedom to make their own healthcare decisions."
The primary will take place on July 21, with the general election on November 3.