Karrin Taylor Robson says Donald Trump’s endorsement inspired 2nd Arizona governor bid

PHOENIX — Arizona businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson said President Donald Trump’s endorsement spurred her to embark on a second run for governor.

“When Donald Trump endorsed me in December, I decided to jump back in,” the Republican told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show during her first interview after announcing her candidacy on Wednesday morning.

Taylor Robson lost to Trump-endorsed Kari Lake in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary. Lake went on to lose in the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who is expected to seek reelection next year.

“We don’t want a repeat of 2022. And with his endorsement, I plan to win in 2026,” Taylor Robson said.

She also cited Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in Arizona last year by a margin of 5.5 percentage points as a reason she’s making another run.

“The voters of Arizona clearly support the president by electing him by a very wide margin,” she said. “And so when you get his support and you see what the current governor has been doing in our state, I could do a better job.”

Taylor Robson said she hasn’t talked to Trump since the day he endorsed her from the stage during a Turning Point event in Phoenix late last year.

“Are you running for governor? I think so, Karrin. Because if you do, you’re going to have my support,” Trump during the Dec. 22 event.

Karrin Taylor Robson takes aim at Gov. Katie Hobbs

When Trump made that statement, no major candidates had entered the 2026 GOP primary race. Since then, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, a longtime devoted Trump supporter, announced his candidacy.

Although Taylor Robson will likely have a tough battle with Biggs in the primary, she focused her message Wednesday on the current governor.

“Katie Hobbs has created a water crisis and that water crisis has led to housing affordability issues,” Taylor Robson said. “If you don’t get those public policy issues right, you just create a cascade effect and Arizona families are suffering.”

Taylor Robson said her 2022 run, while unsuccesful, was a valuable learning experience.

“I met a lot of people, learned a lot and gathered a lot of friends and a lot of supporters along the way that have been encouraging me to do this again,” she said. “So, last time I started at zero. This time, I’m not starting at zero and we are going to take this to the finish with President Trump’s endorsement.”

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