With two months to go until the Arizona primary, Rep. Andy Biggs, the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump in the race for governor, enjoys a substantial lead against his Republican colleague, Rep. David Schweikert.
Biggs garnered 48% support compared to Schweikert’s 18%, according to a recent poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights. But a large number of Republican voters — about 34% — are still undecided on their pick for governor.
They are up against incumbent Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. The survey shows Hobbs has a 4-percentage-point lead against Biggs and a 7-point lead against Schweikert in a general election match-up.
Biggs’ recent campaign ads take aim at Hobbs, and not Schweikert, his more immediate opponent in the GOP primary.
The ads depict Biggs as a leader who promises a more prosperous Arizona, while he criticizes Hobbs for not leading effectively and for driving up prices.
It’s worth noting that although Arizona is home to more registered Republicans than Democrats, it also has the largest group of independent voters. Hobbs has a lead in the polls thanks to her support among independents, compared to Biggs.
This GOP candidate faces sexual impropriety claims
The race among Republicans to replace Biggs in his congressional seat took a turn this week. Trump-endorsed Mark Lamb, the favorite in the race to represent Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, faces accusations of sending sexually explicit images to women and using threats and intimidation to keep these affairs private, according to the Arizona Republic.
Before the publication of the investigative report by the Arizona Republic, this was a safe Republican seat. Lamb, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is up against Daniel Keenan in the primary. Lamb’s attorneys sent Keenan a letter asking his campaign to stop posting defamatory statements regarding Lamb.
A Keenan campaign flier reads, “Mark Lamb filed for bankruptcy and then committed perjury when he signed a legal disclosure claiming that he never had,” according to ABC 15.
Lamb, who filed for bankruptcy in Utah in 2003 and has publicly acknowledged this, in a document for the incorporation of the American Sheriff Foundation checked “no” on a question asking whether he had a history of bankruptcy. Lamb said he didn’t have “malicious intent” and that his lawyers drew up the paperwork.
When Lamb entered the congressional race, one poll from October last year showed him in the lead with 54% support. Now, he is receiving calls to drop out of the race.
The highly competitive congressional race to represent Scottsdale
The rivalry in the race for the 1st Congressional District, being vacated by Schweikert, is also getting heated.
Trump-endorsed Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker and broadcaster, also faces a cease-and-desist notice from his opponent, former Arizona state Rep. Joseph Chaplik.
According to a letter, Feely labeled Chaplik as “No Show Joe” and claimed he missed more than 500 votes while serving in the state legislature. Chaplik said most of his absences in the legislature were due to his mother’s declining health and subsequent passing.
In a recent interview, Feely said Chaplik claimed the former NFL kicker “imported Haitians.”
“No, I gave somebody an opportunity to realize the American dream,” Feely said.
According to a recent internal poll by Chaplik’s campaign, Chaplik has 29% of the support to represent Scottsdale in Congress, while Feely garnered only 9% support. Roughly 57% remain undecided in this GOP primary race that is considered highly competitive.
Although Trump’s endorsement gives Feely a boost, Chaplik’s experience in the legislature is enticing to Scottsdale voters.
Meanwhile, Feely isn’t from Scottsdale nor does he live in the area — his home is in Gilbert, Arizona. Feely was previously running to represent East Valley, where he lives, but later switched his bid upon Trump’s recommendation.