A Vulnerable Governor and an Intraparty Feud Signal a Bumpy Road for Democrats

Any Democrat trying to win an election in Arizona, most political strategists agree, must do nearly everything right — and still hope for a little luck.

By that standard, next year’s elections are looking worrisome for Democrats in the Grand Canyon State.

Their standard-bearer, Gov. Katie Hobbs, is among the nation’s most vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election in 2026. And, rather than bolstering her with vital political muscle and support, the party has been consumed by an acrimonious and seemingly petty feud between the new state Democratic chairman and Arizona’s two Democratic senators.

In a swing state with around 300,000 more Republicans than Democrats, and where President Trump stormed to victory in November, Ms. Hobbs is also likely to face a more formidable opponent than she did in 2022, when she squeaked out a win against Kari Lake, whose stolen-election lies had alienated voters across the political spectrum.

Representative Andy Biggs, a hard-right populist, and Karrin Taylor Robson, a businesswoman from the party’s more moderate McCain wing, have entered the G.O.P. primary. Both have been endorsed by Mr. Trump, but their contest is already shaping up as a fierce battle, with die-hard Trump supporters mocking Ms. Robson as having suddenly jumped on the president’s bandwagon.