Arizona’s key elections: Which US races to watch and why they matter | US midterm elections 2026 News

Arizona voters go to the polls on Tuesday to choose party nominees in races that could determine who controls the US House of Representatives and whether Republicans can take control of one of the nation’s most competitive states.

Once considered reliably Republican, Arizona has swung between the two parties in recent elections. Democrat Joe Biden narrowly won the state in 2020, while Donald Trump took it back in the 2024 presidential election.

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The biggest race is the Republican primary for governor, where four candidates are vying to challenge Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in November. The results will also set up a major congressional rivalry in one of the country’s premier battle arenas.

Here’s what you need to know.

When will polls open and close?

Polls will open at 6am (13:00 GMT) and most will close at 7pm (02:00 GMT on Wednesday). Anyone who is in line by 7pm can vote.

Who can vote?

Registered Democrats and Republicans can vote only in their party’s primary, while independent voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary.

There are about 4.3m registered voters in Arizona, including about 1.5m Republicans, 1.2m Democrats and 1.5m independents or voters with no major party affiliation.

What colors are on the ballot?

Arizona voters will choose the party’s nominees for governor, congressional seats, state offices, including secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and superintendent of public education, and all 30 seats in the state Senate and all 60 seats in the state House of Representatives.

Who is running for governor?

One of the most anticipated races is the Republican primary for governor, where four candidates are vying to challenge Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in November. Hobbs, who is running for his second term, is one of two Democratic senators seeking re-election this year in Trump’s 2024 administration.

Although four Republicans are on the ballot, the race has become a bitter battle between Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, two longtime congressmen who represent competing visions for the future of Arizona’s Republican Party.

Biggs, a former chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is closely aligned with Trump and has built his campaign on the president’s agenda. He was part of a group of Republicans who sought to prevent Congress from recognizing Biden’s 2020 election victory and has been aligned with the conservative wing of the party. Trump endorsed Biggs after previously supporting a Republican candidate who later dropped out of the race.

Schweikert has also supported many of Trump’s demands in Congress, but has shown himself to be more conservative. Representing one of Arizona’s most competitive districts, he says Republicans have lost an advantage in the state by electing those they see as the most proud.

What are congressional races?

The representative will also decide who will run for Arizona’s Congressional 1st District, a seat left open after representative David Schweikert decided to run for governor. Covering Scottsdale and northeast Phoenix, it is expected to be one of the most competitive races in the state in November and could play a role in choosing the party that controls the House.

Republicans are choosing between State Representative Joseph Chaplik, former NFL kicker and sportsman Jay Feely, who is endorsed by Trump, and technology executive John Trobough.

On the Democratic side, physician and former state representative Amish Shah, who narrowly lost to Schweikert in 2024, is running against former columnist Marlene Galan-Woods. The registered Republican until 2018 is the widow of former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, a prominent Republican who later became a staunch opponent of Trump.

He is backed by the National Party, which backed Shah in 2024. Publisher Rick McCartney and businessman Jonathan Treble are also on the ballot. Another high-profile House race is in Arizona’s 6th district, where Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani is seeking a third term against Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine Corps veteran. Both were unopposed in Tuesday’s primaries and will face off in November in what is expected to be one of the Democrats’ chances to unseat a Republican-held seat as they try to regain control of the House.

How are Israel and Gaza shaping the Arizona primaries?

The Democratic Party’s growing divisions over Israel’s war in Gaza are to appear in some Arizona primaries, where candidates have been at odds over US aid to Israel and the party’s foreign policy stance. Two types in particular illustrate these conflicts.

In Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, which is known to be blue, Representative Greg Stanton is facing a serious challenge from Kai Newkirk who is moving forward. He has made US aid to Israel a central issue in his campaign, saying Stanton has been a big supporter.

Stanton, a staunch supporter of Israel endorsed by AIPAC, recently voted against a proposal to freeze US military aid to Israel. According to Track AIPAC, the advocacy group that oversees it money that favors Israel politicallyStanton has received about $322,000 in donations linked to AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups.

In the neighboring 3rd Congressional District, Representative Yassamin Ansari has changed his views on Israel significantly since he ran for Congress, reflecting a shift in the Democratic Party.

Ansari received support from Israel’s Democratic Majority in the hard-fought 2024 primary, but has since become a staunch critic of Israel’s war on Gaza and said he would no longer accept support from the group or AIPAC.

When will the result be announced?

Polls close at 7pm on Tuesday (02:00 GMT on Wednesday) across Arizona, although no results will be released until 8pm local time (03:00 GMT on Wednesday). Because Arizona conducts majority voting by mail or early voting, counties often report majority voting immediately after the election.

More than 755,000 votes had already been cast before election day.

Most races are expected to be clear within a few hours of counting, although close races may take longer if additional votes need to be processed.