Arizona governor race: Andy Biggs looks to unseat incumbent Katie Hobbs

On the Republican side, Congressman Andy Biggs hoping to unseat incumbent Katie Hobbs. Biggs is a five-term U.S. Congressman representing our fifth congressional district. He's also a former state lawmaker. Jacob Luthi is covering that race for us live in Chandler. Jacob. Yeah, Ellen, Mark, good evening. We are right here in Chandler getting set to head inside to the venue where Andy Biggs is expected to join around 7 p.m. Kick off now, again, as you had mentioned about Nicole's reporting about this lieutenant governor's race, right? No one knows what that lieutenant governor position is going to look like because we've never had one before. And both of their picks are very interesting. Now talking a little bit about Arizona's Representative Andy Biggs, he's represented parts of Queen Creek Gilbert, Mesa and Chandler. He currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee now before Congress. He served in both chambers of Arizona's legislature. Now, his campaign has been focused truly on affordability, border security, and water. His goal, he says, is to eventually eliminate the state income tax and cutting home building costs to help strengthen and eventually help strengthen border enforcement as well as protect Arizona's water supply. Now, his running mate, former state senator and Buckeye dairy farmer, Sina Kerr, also brings water policy experience. Political analysts I've spoken to say Biggs' pick appears aimed at consolidating Republican support, while Governor Katie Hobbs' choice of former Mesa Mayor John Giles may be an effort to appeal to independents and undecided voters. Now, that's significant in a state where about a third of the voters are registered independents. And one notable absence from this race, a debate. Hobbs declined to face Andy Biggs on the debate stage, saying she preferred to spend her time speaking directly with Arizona voters. Now, of course, with this race, we'll be watching how the national political climate, including Donald Trump's approval rating, again, Andy Biggs has been endorsed by the president, gas prices, the war in Iran, how all of that plays into this race, as well as all races across our state. But we're going to go ahead and make our way inside. That's the latest from Chandler. I'll go ahead and send it back to you.