Arizona’s 1st Congressional District race was bound to be an interesting one; it always is. But a recent addition to the race makes it even more compelling with potentially even more interesting new entrants to come.
The race took a dramatic turn this week when Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda announced her candidacy with a coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump. The race, already fascinating due to Rep. David Schweikert’s decision to vacate the seat, just became one of the most compelling congressional contests in the nation (read our full coverage here).
When Schweikert announced in late September that he would leave Congress to pursue the Arizona governorship, citing frustration with Washington’s dysfunction and a belief that “Arizona is savable” while D.C. is not, political observers knew the floodgates would open for candidates eyeing his competitive seat. The district has become increasingly competitive in recent cycles, with Schweikert narrowly defeating Democratic challenger Amish Shah by just 3.8 percentage points in 2024, a loss that was almost a blowout compared to some of his other recent victories.
Swoboda’s entry changes the calculus entirely. As the first major Republican to officially jump into the race, she comes armed with significant advantages: Trump’s “complete and total endorsement,” name recognition from her role leading the state party, and a platform centered on economic growth, border security, and taxpayer protection. Her campaign emphasizes “commonsense conservative principles”, a message she believes resonates with the district’s affluent, educated voters who want results over rhetoric.
The Trump endorsement cannot be understated. In Republican primaries, the president’s backing typically clears the field or severely hampers competing candidates. While other Republicans have filed statements of interest, including state legislators and local figures, none carry Swoboda’s combination of Trump support and statewide profile. With the Trump endorsement firmly in hand, Swoboda jumps out to an early lead in what promises to be a hard-fought Republican primary, positioning herself as the prohibitive favorite to carry the GOP banner into what will undoubtedly be one of 2026’s most watched congressional races.