Skip to content
Ballot Explained

Governor · November 3, 2026

Who's running for governor of Arizona

4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.

Candidates
4
Incumbent
Katie Hobbs
Parties
Democratic · Republican · Arizona Independent Party · Green
State primary
Aug 4

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

4 candidates · ballot order · Katie Hobbs currently holds this seat

Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Says she wants to bring transparency and accountability to the governor’s office.
  • Says she is a “fearless fighter” and “champion for every Arizonan.”
  • Says she has dedicated her life to listening to her community and helping solve difficult challenges for Arizona residents.
  • Her campaign says she prefers face-to-face engagement with Arizonans over campaign debates.
  • Says she would work with Trump on border security if it would not harm families.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Democratic governor of Arizona.
  • Running for reelection in the November 3, 2026 Arizona governor’s race.
  • The Democratic Governors Association announced an initial $10 million investment to support her reelection campaign.

Arguments in favor

  • The Democratic Governors Association said it is proud to make an initial investment to support Governor Katie Hobbs, describing her as part of the effort to defend Democratic governors and battleground races.

    — Democratic Governors Association

  • Hobbs’ campaign manager said Hobbs has engaged in more than 100 open-press events and argued that face-to-face engagement with Arizonans is more effective than a debate stage.

    — Nicole DeMont, Hobbs campaign manager

Arguments against

  • Andy Biggs’ campaign spokesperson said Katie Hobbs thinks “the rules don’t apply to her” because she declined debate invitations in the campaign, unlike other statewide Democrats in 2022 and 2024 who debated in the general election.

    — Drew Sexton, Biggs campaign spokesperson

  • Biggs’ campaign spokesperson also said Hobbs would not get to avoid voters in November.

    — Drew Sexton, Biggs campaign spokesperson

What we couldn’t verify

  • No published criticism of Katie Hobbs beyond the debate-related attack from the Biggs campaign was found in the sources reviewed.
  • The sources reviewed do not provide additional verified details about Hobbs’ prior offices, votes, or legislative record.
  • The sources reviewed do not confirm whether Hobbs has officially selected a lieutenant governor running mate, despite reports about John Giles.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:katiehobbs.orgdemocraticgovernors.orgcoltswire.usatoday.comyahoo.comapnews.com

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Nothing documented in the sources reviewed.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Elected to the U.S. House in 2016.
  • Served as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus from 2019 to 2022.
  • Won the Republican nomination for Arizona governor in July 2026.

Arguments in favor

  • Andy has fought to lower costs, grow Arizona’s economy, unleash American energy, and secure the border.

    — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte

Arguments against

  • Biggs would be too extreme and “unelectable” against a Democrat.

    — former Republican rival David Schweikert

  • Biggs has a record of siding with billionaires over working families, voting against lowering health premiums, against reducing prescription costs, and against capping insulin prices.

    — Katie Hobbs campaign video / Hobbs campaign communications director Michael Beyer

  • Biggs has a decades-long record of protecting pedophiles, including opposing a bill to clear the rape kit backlog and voting against releasing the Epstein files.

    — Katie Hobbs campaign video / Hobbs campaign communications director Michael Beyer

What we couldn’t verify

  • No direct, detailed policy platform statements from Biggs were found in the reviewed sources.
  • No published criticism of Biggs beyond the items cited above was found in the sources reviewed.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:katiehobbs.orgtime.com

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Says she does not accept and will not accept PAC or corporate donations.
  • Says her loyalty as governor would be to the people of Arizona, not PACs, special interests, or big donors.
  • Says she chose to run as an Independent/No Labels candidate because political division is blocking solutions.
  • Says Arizona needs leadership that brings people together and puts citizens before party agendas.
  • Supports restoring public trust, government accountability, and reform of agencies she says are failing residents.
  • Says her priorities include addressing the rising cost of living.
  • Supports implementing a universal childcare program.
  • Supports protecting school choice and ensuring education tax dollars are accounted for.
  • Says Arizona must secure its water future.
  • Supports reducing homelessness and removing public encampments by providing safe shelters and resources.
  • Supports improving family court systems.
  • Supports rural communities.
  • Supports an effective legal immigration process.
  • Says she wants open, accessible, and accountable government with public engagement.
  • Says she supports Israel and opposes antisemitism.
  • Says she rejects political-party endorsements when they conflict with standing for Arizona rather than a party.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Ran for Arizona governor as an independent/No Labels candidate in the 2026 election cycle.
  • According to the campaign site, she is a proud Arizona native, small business owner, and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
  • According to the campaign site, she earned a Ph.D. in 2018 and became licensed in 2017.
  • KJZZ reported that she was among the candidates seeking the Arizona Independent Party governor nomination.
  • Yahoo/12News described her as the No Labels candidate running for Arizona governor and as a licensed therapist who won the party nomination.

Arguments in favor

  • Teri has helped ensure that community members are served with high integrity and has been a tireless champion for those who often have no voice.

    — Ryan Senters, CEO of Ohana AZ

  • Teri Ann Hourihan will make the best Governor for Arizona because she brings grounded, compassionate, principled leadership connected to the real lives of the people she hopes to serve.

    — Kristi Estrada

  • JubiTech, LLC formally endorses Teri Hourihan as an independent candidate for Governor of Arizona and says her emphasis on independence, accountability, and service aligns with its values.

    — JubiTech, LLC

  • The campaign says she brings determination, hard work, focus, organization, education, real-world experience, and an unwavering commitment to the people of Arizona.

    — Teri Ann Hourihan campaign

Arguments against

  • Party Chairman Paul Johnson said he did not think Hourihan was ready to run for state office.

    — Paul Johnson, chairman of the Arizona Independent Party

What we couldn’t verify

  • The source set does not provide a clearly documented list of formal offices previously held by Hourihan.
  • The sources are inconsistent on the party label, referring to both the Arizona Independent Party and the No Labels Party.
  • No published criticism of Hourihan other than the party-chairman dispute was found in the sources reviewed.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:teriann4azgov.orgkjzz.orgteriann4azgov.orgyahoo.com

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Equal opportunity for everyone, based on individual merit.
  • Fair and transparent elections.
  • A responsible environmental plan to protect air and water.
  • Meaningful reforms on education, homelessness, and the prison system.
  • Running for governor as a voice for people she says are ignored by the major parties.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Green Party nominee for Arizona governor in the November 2026 general election.
  • Won the Green Party gubernatorial primary with 430 votes, according to the Arizona Green Party's account of the primary results.
  • Received public Clean Elections funding for her gubernatorial campaign, reported at $2.8 million for primary and general-election support.
  • Was the subject of a Clean Elections Commission investigation and an Arizona Attorney General criminal investigation into her campaign's qualifying contributions, according to news reports.

Arguments in favor

  • Timothy La Sota, an attorney representing Lombardo, said there was nothing odd about the contributions collected by the candidates or the fact that they chose to deposit them all at once, and called the allegations a 'really far-fetched conspiracy theory.'

    — Timothy La Sota, attorney for Risa Lombardo

  • Timothy La Sota said Lombardo and Collier did nothing wrong and should not have to repay public funds.

    — Timothy La Sota, attorney for Risa Lombardo

Arguments against

  • The Arizona Green Party said Lombardo is a 'sham' candidate and asked the secretary of state to remove her from the general-election ballot.

    — Arizona Green Party

  • The Arizona Green Party said Lombardo was trying to do nothing more than siphon votes away from the major-party candidates.

    — Arizona Green Party

  • The Arizona Green Party said Lombardo had significant Republican political connections and was 'in disguise' as a Green candidate.

    — Arizona Green Party

What we couldn’t verify

  • No published criticism of Lombardo beyond the party and campaign-finance allegations was found in the sources reviewed.
  • The sources reviewed do not establish any prior elected office held by Lombardo.
  • The sources reviewed do not confirm whether the ongoing investigations will lead to any findings or penalties.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:risalombardo.comkjzz.orgsaintswire.usatoday.comyahoo.comazgp.org

Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.

Governor is on the November 3, 2026 Arizona ballot. Hobbs is the incumbent; Biggs won the Republican nomination; Hourihan won the Arizona Independent Party nomination; and Lombardo is the Green nominee. Ballot order follows Arizona’s general-election ordering rules for statewide partisan races and then new-party candidates alphabetically. ([azsos.gov](https://azsos.gov/about-secretary/katie-hobbs?utm_source=openai))

This is one contest on a longer ballot

A Arizona ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.

See my full Arizona ballot

Voting in Arizona

Confirm this with the official source

Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Arizona Secretary of State.

Other 2026 races in Arizona

Arizona ballot measures

Before you vote

How do I find out what's on my ballot?

How do I check if I'm registered to vote?

How do I research candidates I've never heard of?

Should I vote early, by mail, or on Election Day?