Arizona and Tennessee Set Up Fall Governor's Races
Arizona held its Republican gubernatorial primary on July 21, 2026, with Andy Biggs winning the nomination over David Schweikert to face Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November. Separately, Tennessee is preparing for its own August 6, 2026 primary to succeed term-limited Gov. Bill Lee, with Marsha Blackburn and John Rose among the leading Republican candidates. Coverage of Arizona focused on the primary results and a newly created lieutenant governor post, while Tennessee coverage emphasized candidates' fundraising and legislative records.
Arizona held its primary election for governor on July 21, 2026, in which Andy Biggs defeated David Schweikert for the Republican nomination, setting up a general election matchup against incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on November 3, 2026. This was also the first Arizona primary held for a newly created lieutenant governor post, established after voters approved Proposition 131 in 2022; under the new system, the gubernatorial nominee selects a running mate to campaign jointly in the general election. Officials elected in November 2026 are scheduled to take office January 4, 2027. In a separate race, Tennessee is holding primaries on August 6, 2026, to select nominees for governor, as term-limited Gov. Bill Lee cannot seek reelection. The Republican and Democratic primary ballots feature a combined eight candidates, including U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose, and State Rep. Monty Fritts. In fundraising reported for the most recent quarter, Rose outspent Blackburn, the reported frontrunner, by a roughly 7-to-1 margin, though a political action committee spent millions on ads attacking Rose and supporting Blackburn, partially offsetting the disparity. In Arizona, the outcome of the Biggs-Schweikert primary is confirmed, with the general election between Biggs and Hobbs set for November 3, 2026. In Tennessee, the primary outcome remains undecided pending the August 6 vote; reporting has noted that several Republican candidates, including Fritts, have limited legislative records, with Fritts' most notable measure being a widely criticized 2024 bill related to "chemtrails." The final slate of general election candidates and lieutenant governor running mates in Arizona, as well as the Tennessee primary results, remain unresolved pending upcoming votes.
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How the coverage differs
Andy Biggs wins Republican nomination to challenge Katie Hobbs for Arizona governor
Andy Biggs won the Republican gubernatorial primary in Arizona, setting up a general election matchup against incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. The primary was held July 21, 2026, with the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Read original report ↗Tennessee gubernatorial candidates have passed little legislation
Tennessee's Republican gubernatorial candidates are far from prolific lawmakers, having passed little legislation during their tenures in the state legislature and Congress, with State Rep. Monty Fritts' biggest claim to fame being a widely-criticized 2024 "chemtrails" bill.
Read original report ↗Arizona holds primary election for governor and newly created lieutenant governor post
Arizona held its primary election on July 21, 2026, for governor and, for the first time, lieutenant governor, an office created after voters approved Arizona Proposition 131 in 2022. Under the new system, the gubernatorial nominee selects a running mate for lieutenant governor to run together in the general election. The officeholders elected in 2026 are scheduled to take office January 4, 2027.
Read original report ↗Andy Biggs and David Schweikert offer competing visions for Republican Party in Arizona primary
Read original report ↗Andy Biggs and David Schweikert offer competing visions for Republican Party in Arizona governor primary
After decades coexisting in the fractious Arizona Republican Party, Biggs and Schweikert are on a collision course in Tuesday's primary for governor.
Read original report ↗Who's running for Tennessee governor? Candidates before Aug. 6 primary
Tennessee voters will choose nominees for governor in the Aug. 6 primary, with Gov. Bill Lee barred from seeking another term due to term limits; the Republican and Democratic ballots feature a combined eight candidates including Marsha Blackburn, John Rose, and Monty Fritts.
Read original report ↗John Rose outspends Blackburn in Tennessee governor's race fundraising
John Rose outspent his frontrunner foe Marsha Blackburn by a 7-to-1 margin in Tennessee's governor's race last quarter, but a big-money PAC made up for some of the disparity by spending millions to attack Rose and support Blackburn.
Read original report ↗