GOP Ad War Heats Up in Battleground State Primary: 'We've Barely Just Begun'
Arizona governor race heats up with early ad blitz as Turning Point PAC backs Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson intensifies campaign efforts.
The campaign season in Arizona’s 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary is heating up far earlier than usual, as new advertising dollars flood the airwaves and digital platforms more than a year before the decisive August election.
Turning Point PAC, a prominent conservative political action committee, announced on Tuesday a $500,000 media buy to boost Rep. Andy Biggs in his bid for governor. The ads will appear across a multitude of platforms—strategic cable, over-the-top streaming, radio, and targeted digital placements—reaching Arizona voters during a 3.5 week blitz beginning this week. Fox News’ local markets, conservative talk radio streams, and online channels are among the outlets slated to carry the pro-Biggs message.
“Andy Biggs was the best Senate President Arizona has had in decades and he has been President Trump’s most reliable friend in Congress,” declared Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action and Turning Point PAC. Bowyer highlighted that the media spend, coupled with Biggs’s mounting earned media exposure, signals an “incredible” level of grassroots enthusiasm rallying behind Biggs’s campaign. He called the early momentum “historic.”
This show of force comes on the heels of a high-energy rally held in the Phoenix area over the weekend, where thousands of supporters packed the venue to demonstrate their early allegiance. Charlie Kirk, Turning Point’s founder, characterized the turnout as “truly historic” and predicted that the widespread attention for Biggs this far ahead of the primary could only increase his double-digit polling lead over rivals. “There isn’t a world in which voters will not be aware of Andy Biggs being on the ballot,” Kirk stated, adding that the candidate offers the promise of “President Trump and Ron DeSantis level of leadership and competency” for Arizona.
Biggs faces stiff competition from Karrin Taylor Robson, an established businesswoman and former Arizona Board of Regents member, who narrowly lost the GOP nomination in 2022. Taylor Robson’s campaign has countered with robust spending of its own, boasting a recent “multi-million dollar” ad buy featuring her April endorsement by former President Trump. She described the renewed endorsement as an “honor” and committed herself to working alongside Trump to address border security, economic growth, and public safety if elected governor.
Strategists supporting Taylor Robson indicated that Turning Point’s decision to invest so much money this early underscores the fiercely competitive nature of the primary race. Both candidates are already maneuvering for strategic advantage, leveraging endorsements and high-profile events to capture the loyalty of the state’s conservative base.
In a surprising turn, former President Donald Trump offered his endorsement to both Biggs and Taylor Robson, citing what he described as two “fantastic candidates” vying for leadership of Arizona. In a statement shared via Truth Social, Trump explained that with the unexpected entry of Biggs into the race, he felt compelled to back both contenders, assuring voters that either would serve Arizona well and urging unity under the “Make America Great Again” banner.
The heavy influx of advertising so early in the election cycle highlights how pivotal Arizona has become in national politics. The Grand Canyon State, once again one of the nation’s most contested swing states, drew considerable attention in last November’s elections, with Trump ultimately carrying the state. As of now, major election analysts rank the upcoming governor’s race as a toss-up, setting the stage for an intense and closely watched contest in 2026.
