Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey says it is too early to announce endorsement in 2026 governor’s race

PHOENIX — A former Arizona governor said Wednesday that he is not ready to issue an endorsement in Arizona’s 2026 gubernatorial election.

“I think it’s early,” former Gov. Doug Ducey told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show. “When I ran for governor in 2014, I didn’t kick off ’til March of next year. So, these campaigns, unfortunately, have become basically two-year campaigns.”

The Republican said he has heard from all three candidates running in the GOP primary — Karrin Taylor Robson, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs and U.S. Rep. David Schweikert — and that he expects to speak with them more before declaring who he believes should be the state’s next governor.

“So, I’ll speak out a little bit more on this as we get to next year,” Ducey said.

What to know about 2026 governor’s race in Arizona

Ducey, who spent eight years in Arizona’s top office from 2015 to 2023, could play a key role in helping Republican voters in Arizona decide which of the three candidates has the best shot of unseating incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs next fall.

That’s due to President Donald Trump’s dual endorsement of both Taylor Robson and Biggs, along with August polling that showed Taylor Robson with a 10-point lead over Biggs, 37% to 27%, but also a large percentage (36%) of voters that were undecided.

The three GOP candidates will meet in the primary election on Aug. 4, 2026, and the general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.

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