By Alexander Lomax
Congressman David Schweikert
Congressman David Schweikert has decided that after eight terms in the House, he’s ready for a promotion…or at least a different title. The longtime Republican representative has dropped his congressional reelection bid to run for Arizona governor, presumably because dealing with Congress wasn’t quite frustrating enough.
Here’s the thing about Schweikert’s gubernatorial ambitions: he’ll face U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs and businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson in the Republican primary. That’s right, two candidates who already have name recognition and established campaign operations. Schweikert is jumping into a race that’s about as welcoming as asphalt in July. Both Biggs and Taylor Robson have Trump endorsements, while Schweikert brings… well, his congressional voting record and a willingness to leave a competitive seat behind. Bold strategy, let’s see how it plays out.
Schweikert’s departure has turned Arizona’s 1st Congressional District into open season. Dr. Amish Shah, who narrowly lost to Schweikert by approximately 4 points in the most recent election, announced his 2026 candidacy and faces a crowded Democratic primary field that includes Marlene Galan Woods. On the Republican side, there are many, MANY rumored candidates, ranging from sports luminaries such as Danica Patrick and former ASU coach Todd Graham, to battle-tested winning politicos such as Matt Gress, Joseph Chaplik, and Justin Wilmeth. Regardless of who is just a rumor and who is real, there should be no doubt that a handful of legitimate power players and compelling candidates are having conversations about this race right now.
Let’s be honest about what this all means for the average Arizonan: you’re about to be absolutely buried in political communications. We’re talking mailers stuffed in your mailbox daily, YouTube ads you can’t skip, Facebook feeds clogged with “URGENT” campaign messages, and television commercials that make you nostalgic for pharmaceutical ads.
The congressional race is currently considered a “toss-up” by Cook Political Report, which means both parties will throw enormous resources at it. Add in the governor’s race, and Arizona voters are essentially going to spend most of 2026 as unwilling participants in a political bombardment campaign.
There may be one saving grace…for the first time in what seems like half of a century, there won’t be a U.S. Senate seat in play next year. But that is little comfort as the statewide races will be expensive ones, leaving aside this Congressional race which could plausibly exceed $40 million in spending in total…just in a Congressional district. The campaign ads will be constant and they will be brutal.
Stock up on patience now…you’re going to need it.