Turning Point spends over $18 million for Biggs as Arizona governor race tightens

Turning Point, the political group founded by Charlie Kirk, has spent heavily to help Republican Rep. Andy Biggs in the Arizona governor's race. Turning Point Action has spent $18 million in the past month on ads attacking Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and promoting Biggs, the Deseret News reported on Oct. 20 ¹. The Washington Sun, using state campaign finance records, put the spending by Turning Point USA's Arizona state political action committee (PAC) at more than $18 million ².

The PAC spent at least $14 million on ads in September alone. It then added two $1.7 million ad buys in early October ². By comparison, it spent roughly $270,000 on the 2022 governor's race, which Hobbs won narrowly over Kari Lake ².

On tapeArizona’s Family (3TV / CBS 5) · Oct 20

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Kirk's endorsement

Kirk announced his endorsement of Biggs in May 2025 on "The Charlie Kirk Show." He later spoke at a Phoenix rally for Biggs ². Turning Point says it is focused on Arizona because it is headquartered there and because the state is "one of the most important states for Republicans in 2028" ².

If Andy Biggs loses, Turning Point loses.

Hobbs's campaign has attacked the spending. Spokesperson Michael Beyer called it a "bailout" and cited a $15 million figure, which is lower than the totals above ².

A money gap that Turning Point is filling

Biggs's own campaign has far less cash than Hobbs. He spent $2.4 million to win the four-way Republican primary and had about $1.2 million as of July 1. Hobbs had already spent more than $11 million by late July ³. Turning Point's PAC had spent only $458,000 for Biggs before he won the primary ³.

The Democratic Governors Association committed $10 million this summer to protect Hobbs ³. As of the Washington Sun's report, the Republican Governors Association had not spent on Biggs's behalf ².

On tapeFOX 10 Phoenix · Oct 28

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Where the race stands

The Cook Political Report rates the race "lean Democrat" ². The Deseret News reported that recent polls show Hobbs's double-digit lead falling within the margin of error ¹. The articles we could read did not give exact figures from a neutral poll.

Hobbs won in 2022 by 17,117 votes. Trump won Arizona in 2024 by 187,382 votes, and Republicans have more than 300,000 more registered voters than Democrats ³.

Money does matter, that's for sure.

Hobbs has issued a record 541 vetoes. She said: "I didn't come to the governor's office to veto bills" ¹.

Why it matters

That matters because the race tests whether Kirk's endorsement and a very large outside ad campaign can overcome a candidate with far less money of his own. Barrett Marson, a Republican strategist, said Turning Point's role could become a "lightning rod" ².

Polls close in Arizona on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Because the 2022 race was decided by 17,117 votes, a close result could take time to settle ³.

The Record

1. Jul 1, 2026Biggs had about $1.2 million in his campaign account after spending $2.4 million to win the GOP primary ³.
2. Jul 29, 2026The Democratic Governors Association said it was spending $10 million to protect Hobbs ³.
3. Oct 20, 2026The Deseret News reported Turning Point Action had spent $18 million in the past month on ads for Biggs and against Hobbs ¹.

Sources

1. Deseret News, “Arizona governor race between Katie Hobbs, John Giles and Andy Biggs highlights Latter-day Saint political identity” (2026-10-20). deseret.com/politics/2026/10/20/arizona-governor-race-betwee
2. The Washington Sun, “Turning Point USA Is Spending Millions to Boost One of the Last Candidates Endorsed by Charlie Kirk” (2026-10-29). washingtonsun.com/campaigns/turning-point-usa-arizona-govern
3. KJZZ, “Democratic Governors Association pumping $10 million in Hobbs' race in Arizona” (2026-07-29). kjzz.org/politics/2026-07-29/democratic-governors-associatio

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