Donald Trump Pulls Unusual Endorsement Maneuver In Arizona

Former President Donald Trump has added another endorsement to next year’s Republican primary for Arizona governor, backing U.S. Representative Andy Biggs alongside his previous endorsement of housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson.

Trump’s endorsement of Robson, announced late last year, had sparked backlash among some of his staunchest supporters in Arizona, who were concerned about her ties to the traditional Republican business establishment. These critics were more inclined to support a candidate with deeper connections to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.

Biggs, a former chair of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and a former state Senate president, has been a long-time ally of Trump and was a vocal supporter of his false claims regarding the 2020 presidential election. Representing a deeply conservative district that includes cities such as Queen Creek and Gilbert, Biggs is closely aligned with the Republican base. He has also earned a reputation for challenging party leadership, famously helping to oust Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker in 2023, along with seven other Republican lawmakers.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained his reasoning for backing both candidates. “When Andy Biggs decided to run for Governor, quite unexpectedly, I had a problem — Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH,” he said.

Robson, who ran for governor in 2022 but lost in the GOP primary to Kari Lake, had aligned herself with the traditional Arizona conservative establishment. Her campaign was supported by Republicans such as former Governor Doug Ducey and former Vice President Mike Pence, while Trump had backed Lake, who lost to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. This time, Robson has made efforts to strengthen her ties to Trump, embracing his policies and presenting herself as the Trump-backed candidate.

In response to the dual endorsement, Robson expressed her gratitude, stating, “I cannot wait to be in the Governor’s Office as a partner to his conservative, America First agenda. Onward!”

Sean Noble, the general consultant for Biggs’ campaign, welcomed the endorsement, while also noting the potential implications for Robson. “Given that Robson had leaned so heavily on the endorsement as her very premise for being in the race, it does call into question whether she should stay in the race,” he said.

Trump has a history of issuing dual endorsements. Since 2017, he has supported multiple candidates competing for the same position in six races, including both Robson and Biggs in Arizona. In the 2022 Missouri U.S. Senate race, Trump endorsed two GOP candidates named Eric. Additionally, in 2024, Trump issued a triple endorsement for the Missouri governor’s race, backing Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, and Bill Eigel.

The Democratic Governors Association criticized Trump’s dual endorsement as a “huge blow” to Robson. The winner of the Republican primary will likely face Governor Hobbs, who is expected to secure the Democratic nomination without serious competition.

This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.