Taylor Robson, who narrowly lost the 2022 GOP primary to Kari Lake, cited party unity as her primary motivation. In a formal statement, she explained:
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!- Preventing Division: She expressed a desire to avoid a “divisive” primary that “drains resources” and results in months of “intraparty attacks.”
- General Election Focus: Her goal is to ensure the Republican Party isn’t fractured heading into the November general election against incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.
- Continuing the Fight: Despite stepping back, she noted she is “not stepping back from the fight for Arizona’s future” and remains willing to support the party’s eventual nominee.
The New Two-Way Battle
With Taylor Robson out, the Republican primary—set for July 21, 2026—is now a head-to-head race between two prominent figures in the Arizona GOP:
| Candidate | Current Role | Primary Platform/Support |
| Andy Biggs | U.S. Representative (AZ-5) | Former Freedom Caucus Chair; holds endorsements from Donald Trump and Turning Point Action. |
| David Schweikert | U.S. Representative (AZ-1) | Senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee; emphasizes fiscal policy and tax reform. |
The Trump Influence
Interestingly, Donald Trump had initially issued a “co-endorsement” for both Taylor Robson and Andy Biggs. With Robson’s exit, Biggs now stands as the sole Trump-endorsed candidate in the field, potentially consolidating the “MAGA” base behind his campaign.
