The 2026 election is more than a year away, but things are already getting interesting in Arizona as the state GOP party chair, Gina Swoboda, launched her campaign for an open congressional seat Monday. Then “America’s Sheriff” Mark Lamb jumped into the race for a different congressional seat on Wednesday.
Republicans are also starting to line up to take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, including two Republican congressmen, leaving their seats open and competitive. The cascading effect is leading to Republican jockeying across the state.
Last month, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., was joined in the gubernatorial race by another congressional lawmaker, Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., who suggested Arizona is more “savable” than Washington, D.C.
Who is running for Schweikert’s seat?
Schweikert’s exit left the field wide-open for the state’s highly competitive 1st District, which includes parts of Scottsdale and Phoenix.
That’s when Arizona Republican Party chairwoman Gina Swoboda announced she is running for Congress.
“Over the last month, I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of encouragement I have received from supporters across this district to run for this seat and keep it in Republican hands,” Swoboda said.
She also touted President Donald Trump’s endorsement in a post on X.
“Gina Swoboda has my complete and total endorsement for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District! Gina will be a tremendous champion for Arizona in Congress,” Trump said.
Last year, Trump offered his endorsement to Swoboda when she ran for the position of party chair.
Turning Point USA unhappy with Gina Swoboda’s run
After she launched her campaign, she faced criticism from leaders at Turning Point USA, who questioned whether the endorsement she received from Trump was real.
Swoboda kept mum about her decision to run over the last few weeks as rumors circulated on the internet. In the past, she dismissed the idea of running for Congress.
The pushback against her run for a House seat is the latest evidence of infighting between TPUSA and the Arizona Republican Party.
This isn’t the first time she faced pushback from the group. Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Turning Point ally, previously called for her resignation, as the Deseret News reported.
While she’s angered some Republicans, Schweikert’s spokesperson told Arizona Central that the congressman was “pleased to see” a strong candidate like Swoboda run for his district.
Turning Point Action executive Tyler Bowyer floated Jay Feely’s name for District 1. Feely, a former football player for several NFL teams, is running for Arizona’s 5th District, set to be left vacant by Biggs, who isn’t running for reelection.
“He’s a great Christian, well known name in Az sports & sported by a ton in the business community,” Bowyer wrote in a post. “President Trump loves him and I think would really like to have both him AND Sheriff Lamb in Congress!”
America’s Sheriff to run for Congress
Bowyer was referring to former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, known as “America’s Sheriff.” Lamb, who holds a hard-line stance on immigration, announced his candidacy Monday. He is also running for Biggs’ seat, the 5th Congressional District.
This district encompasses Gilbert and Queen Creek, as well as parts of Chandler and Mesa.
“I believe, in God, family, freedom, I believe in the rule of law, believe in America, believe in all the things that built this country and, like you said, we need proven fighters in this realm right now,” Lamb said Wednesday.
In the GOP gubernatorial primary, Biggs and Schweikert are up against another candidate: Karrin Taylor Robson.
Biggs and Robson, both of whom have Trump’s endorsement, recently released their campaign finance reports.
Biggs, who was also endorsed by Turning Point Action, has raised $1.2 million since starting his campaign in January. Meanwhile, Robson lent her campaign $2 million. She is backed by the state GOP.
Hobbs, the Democratic incumbent, raised $1.5 million over the last three months, bringing the total in her war chest to over $9 million.