Gov. Katie Hobbs Declines Debating Andy Biggs in Governor’s Race
Hobbs will instead hold listening events and campaign stops statewide, while Biggs plans an Oct. 6 debate organized by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
- On Thursday, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs announced she will not debate Republican challenger Congressman Andy Biggs, choosing instead to focus on her Arizona First Tour to engage voters directly.
- Hobbs has consistently avoided traditional debates, refusing to face Republican Kari Lake in 2022 and Republican Steve Gaynor in 2018, though she participated in a televised debate that October.
- Campaign manager Nicole DeMont said the team prefers "face-to-face engagement," citing more than 100 open-press events, while Biggs adviser Drew Sexton criticized the decision as avoiding necessary public scrutiny.
- Separately, Biggs announced that former Arizona Senate Majority Whip Sine Kerr will join his ticket as the nominee for Lieutenant Governor, aiming to represent rural Arizona communities.
- The 2026 election marks the first time voters will select a Lieutenant Governor following Proposition 131, though Governor Hobbs has not yet announced her own running mate.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Life and Liberty
ussanews.comKatie Hobbs Skips Arizona Debate Again as Andy Biggs Vows to Show Up
Katie Hobbs Skips Another Arizona Debate, Biggs Says He’ll Show Up Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is once again saying no to a debate stage. Her campaign confirmed Thursday that Hobbs will not take part in gubernatorial debates during the current campaign. That makes it the second election cycle in a row where the Democrat has refused to debate her main opponent in a traditional setting. Hobbs also skipped debates during the 2022 race, including in th…
Gov. Katie Hobbs rejects debate with Rep. Andy Biggs
YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) - Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) has rejected a debate with Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs. Gov. Hobbs' campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, shared that face-to-face engagement is more important than a "stage designed for short soundbites and political theater." DeMont said Hobbs will instead focus on traveling around the state of Arizona to listen to what the people want. The last time Hobbs agreed to a debate w…
Ariz. Governor’s Race: Gov. Hobbs declines to debate GOP contender Rep. Andy Biggs
Arizona Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs will not participate in general election debates against her Republican challenger, Representative Andy Biggs -- marking the second consecutive gubernatorial election in which the Democrat incumbent has opted to bypass the traditional debate stage.
Arizona Mirror
pinalcentral.comKatie Hobbs says she won’t debate Andy Biggs, opting instead to tour the state
Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks on June 22, 2026, at the ribbon cutting ceremony at Buc-ee's Goodyear during the grand opening of its first Arizona location. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)For the second election cycle in a row, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is refusing to debate her Republican opponent. Hobbs narrowly won the governor’s seat by about 17,000 votes in 2022 after she declined to share a debate stage with Republican Kari Lake. No…
Hobbs to Dodge Debate Against Biggs
Gov. Katie Hobbs has once again decided not to debate her Republican opponent. On Thursday, Hobbs declined to debate the Republican Party's gubernatorial candidate, Congressman Andy Biggs. Hobbs hasn't debated an opponent since 2018. For his part, the Biggs campaign says he will be at the Clean Elections debate scheduled for October 6. https://twitter.com/drewsexton23/status/2082982943514132912 "Deep...
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