In Arizona’s Republican primaries, affirming the belief that the 2020 election was taken from Donald Trump remains a critical test for candidates.
On Tuesday, key figures who have denied the 2020 election results secured victories in statewide Republican primaries. Among them were Rep. Andy Biggs, who ran for governor, and state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, who sought the position of secretary of state. State Senate President Warren Petersen was leading in the attorney general primary, although the race hadn’t been officially decided by early Wednesday morning.
Biggs, a firm Trump supporter involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election on January 6, 2021, faced a subpoena in an Arizona investigation. Kolodin, who represented a group of fake electors, faced disciplinary action from the Arizona state bar and initiated lawsuits to challenge both the 2020 and 2022 election outcomes. Petersen initiated a taxpayer-funded audit of Maricopa County’s election system, which led to a subpoena.
The success of these candidates indicates that GOP primary voters still favor those who support false election narratives or have tried to overturn results. However, such positions could be detrimental in the November elections, and Democrats are planning to leverage these stances against them in the fall.
“It’s one of those things that just won’t go away,” commented Matt Salmon, a former Arizona representative. “In Arizona’s Republican Party, sticking to Trump’s narrative on almost every issue, including election denialism, is still advantageous in the primaries.”
However, Salmon noted that in the general election, such positions become burdensome, especially among independents and moderate Republicans who participate in the general election, where election denialism is perceived as a liability.
On Tuesday, the victorious candidates focused on election integrity for their 2026 campaigns. Biggs has been an advocate for the SAVE America Act, a stalled election bill promoted by Trump. Kolodin campaigned for eliminating Arizona’s permanent early voting list and implementing strict ID requirements. Petersen aimed to broaden the attorney general’s election integrity unit to scrutinize election results. Arizona was a highly competitive and contested state in the 2020 election. Fox News’ early announcement of then-candidate Joe Biden’s win in Arizona sent ripples through Trump’s circle. It took several weeks for then-Republican Governor Doug Ducey to acknowledge Biden’s victory.
The state became a focal point for Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results. Trump and his allies exerted pressure on Arizona leaders, including then-House Speaker Rusty Bowers, to reconvene the legislature and recall the state’s slate of electors. A group of Republicans falsely portraying themselves as alternate electors faced charges of forgery, fraud, and conspiracy, with the case still ongoing.
Despite this, running on an election denial platform has not proven successful for the Arizona GOP in November elections. In 2022, Arizona Republicans fielded staunch election deniers across the ballot—Kari Lake for governor, Blake Masters for U.S. Senate, and Mark Finchem for secretary of state—and suffered losses in each race, even as Republicans saw overall success nationally. In 2024, Lake again lost in a bid for the U.S. Senate, while Trump secured Arizona with over a five-point margin.
“Biggs and Kolodin will carry the burden of election denialism for the next three months,” said Arizona GOP strategist Barrett Marson. “Although Democrats should emphasize affordability, they will likely highlight how these candidates pose risks to democracy.”
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who faced no opposition in the Democratic primary and will compete against Biggs in November, served as secretary of state during the 2020 election. She depicted this year’s gubernatorial race as a choice between trust and conspiracy in Arizona’s election system.
“Arizona is one of seven swing states critical to the presidential election,” Hobbs stated during a Tuesday evening appearance on MS NOW. “With Andy Biggs as governor, Arizona would be the first swing state led by an election denier, and the time to prevent that is now, not 2028.”
It’s almost essential for a Republican officeholder to align with the president on the 2020 election and advocate for significant changes in election laws.
“As long as Donald Trump, the party leader, emphasizes election integrity, it will remain a key issue in GOP primaries,” said an Arizona Republican strategist, speaking anonymously.
“Election integrity measures are widely supported, but focusing on this issue highlights divisions regarding January 6th and didn’t win in the 2022 general election,” the strategist added. “It’s uncertain if general election voters will prioritize this in 2026, given the emphasis on affordability. We will soon find out!”
Trump, meanwhile, has been reluctant to move beyond the 2020 election, even after returning to the White House in 2024. He has not conceded his loss in that election, and in a speech last Thursday, he announced plans to declassify documents he claimed demonstrate Chinese interference in the 2020 election.
“Our elections were exposed to manipulation and theft, eroding the trust of the American people,” Trump declared on Thursday. “This must not be allowed to persist.”
