In what may be an early gift to the Katie Hobbs for Governor Re-Election Campaign, businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson, after enduring attacks from the MAGA and Turning Point Wings of her party, decided to withdraw from the 2026 Gubernatorial race, releasing the below statement.
With Robson out, the Republican nomination fight will center on current Congressional Representatives Andy Biggs and David Schweikert.
The Trump-MAGA-Turning Point-White Nationalist-Reality Challenged wing of the Arizona Republican Party has cemented its control of that entity from the Goldwater-McCain one.
Reacting to the announcement, Nicole DeMont, the campaign manager for the Hobbs re-election team issued a statement that read:
“Karrin Taylor Robson saw the writing on the wall and knows that Gov. Katie Hobbs is going to win re-election because of her bipartisan record of lowering costs, securing the border, and protecting healthcare. No matter who emerges from this chaotic primary, we will stay focused on building a winning coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who believe in putting Arizona first.”
While this is a good development for the Hobbs team because of the three candidates, Robson appeared to have the most swing voter appeal, it would be unwise to think the election ended today.
Matt Grodsky, Vice President of Matters of State Strategies, commented to Blog for Arizona his feelings on what the Hobbs team strategy should be, saying:
“Their team isn’t going to take anything for granted, and neither should Democrats across the state. We need to mobilize to help ensure the Governor and our statewide elected officials are returned to office. It’s heads down, business as usual. Focus on securing the win in November.”
History is also a good guide.
The Carter/Mondale Campaign wanted Ronald Reagan as the 1980 Republican nominee.
How did that turn out?
The Clinton/Kaine Campaign thought the 2016 campaign was over with the release of the Trump Access Hollywood tapes.
Look what happened.
Many thought the people would never return Donald Trump to office after two impeachments, a failed first term, January 6, 2021, and 34 criminal convictions.
The slight plurality of the American People, suffering from historical amnesia, decided to return to the MAGA national nightmare despite all Mr. Trump had done and said he would do.
So while this is probably a good turn for Hobbs’s electoral fortunes, it would be unwise for her team and the Democrats down ballot candidates to become complacent and think the election is in the bag.
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