Incumbent Katie Hobbs (D), Andy Biggs (R), Risa Lombardo (G), and Teri Hourihan (No Labels Party) are running for governor.
In 2022, Hobbs was elected 50.3% to 49.6%. In the 2024 presidential election, President Donald Trump (R) defeated Kamala Harris (D) 52.2% to 46.7% in the state. As a result, this is one of five governorships Democrats are defending in states Trump won in 2024. As of September 25, 2026, major race forecasters have rated the election Lean or Tilt Democratic.
Hobbs previously served as Arizona Secretary of State from 2019 to 2023 and as a member of the Arizona Legislature, representing Senate District 24 from 2013 to 2019, and House District 15 from 2011 to 2013. Hobbs was Senate Minority Leader from 2015 to 2019. Hobbs is running on her record. Her campaign website said, "Katie always puts Arizona first, and that means working across the aisle to get things done."
Biggs has represented Arizona's 5th Congressional District since 2017. Previously, he represented Arizona Senate District 12 from 2011 to 2017 and Arizona House of Representatives District 22 from 2003 to 2011. Biggs is running on his record in Congress. His campaign website said, "Serving AZ-05 in Congress since 2016, he has never surrendered when it comes to securing our borders, lowering our taxes, and putting Arizona first. He is the only candidate endorsed by the late Charlie Kirk and President Trump."
As of June 30, Hobbs had raised $9.8 million and spent $6 million. Biggs had raised $2.8 Million and spent $1.7 million.
Arizona is holding its first election for lieutenant governor this year. Voters created the office when they approved Arizona Proposition 131 in 2022. Gubernatorial nominees choose a lieutenant gubernatorial running mate after the primary elections, and they run together on a single ticket in the general election. Hobbs selected former Republican mayor of Mesa John Giles as her running mate. Biggs selected former Republican state. Sen. Sine Kerr as his running mate.
This is one of 36 gubernatorial elections taking place in 2026. There are currently 26 Republican governors and 24 Democratic governors. Click here for an overview of all 36 gubernatorial elections taking place in 2026.
Heading into the 2026 elections, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 16 Democratic trifectas, and 11 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control. There are 24 Republican triplexes, 21 Democratic triplexes, and five divided governments where neither party holds triplex control.
A state government trifecta refers to a situation where one party controls a state's governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. A state government triplex refers to a situation where the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are all members of the same political party.
