Karrin Taylor Robson Drops Bid for Arizona Governor

Robson in a statement said that the Republican party “can’t afford” a “divisive party” in the primary.

Published: 2/12/2026, 10:43:42 PM EST

Karrin Taylor Robson Drops Bid for Arizona Governor — Republican gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson speaks at a campaign rally in Mesa, Ariz., on Aug. 1, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Karrin Taylor Robson suspended her campaign for Arizona governor on Thursday, leaving Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) as the only Trump-backed candidate in the race.

Robson in a statement said that the Republican Party simply “can’t afford” a “divisive primary" in this year's elections.

"It only weakens our conservative cause and gives the left exactly what they want: a fractured Republican Party heading into November,” Robson wrote in a statement. “With so much on the line in 2026, I am not willing to contribute to that outcome."

Trump publicly announced his support for Robson in December, before Biggs launched his own campaign for governor. The president ultimately endorsed both of them in the race.

“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,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post in April 2025. “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."

Robson pitched herself as a business executive and political outsider during her campaign, similar to Trump. She also aligned her campaign with Trump’s “America First" agenda.

Biggs, on the other hand, was first elected in 2016 to represent Arizona’s 5th district. He currently serves on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. He also served as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus from 2019 through 2021.

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) is also running for governor in the GOP primary, as is small business owner Scott Neely.

Schweikert is serving his eighth term in Congress for Arizona’s 1st congressional district. He serves as chairman of the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, chairman of the Valley Fever Task Force, and the Republican co-chair of the Blockchain Caucus.

Schweikert commended Robson on her campaign run.

“[Robson] is a good conservative who cares deeply about both our state and the Republican Party,” Schweikert wrote on X on Feb. 12. “She has played an important role in so many Republican victories through the years. I wish her all the best, and I look forward to working with her.”

Current Gov. Katie Hobbs is running for reelection in the Democratic primary.

In Arizona, the gubernatorial nominee is selected in the primary, which has been set for July 21. The gubernatorial nominee then chooses a running mate for lieutenant governor, Together, they run together on a single ticket in the general election set for Nov. 3, 2026.