Turning Point USA Spent Millions on Arizona Governor Race

The PAC invested over $18 million in media buys as the contest remains lean Democrat.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a desert highway leading to a stylized capitol dome, representing Arizona election spending. — Turning Point USA has funneled over $18 million into media buys to support Republican candidate Andy Biggs in the Arizona gubernatorial race. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Turning Point USA has directed more than $18 million toward media buys in the Arizona gubernatorial race, marking a significant escalation from its 2022 involvement. The spending spree aims to bolster Republican nominee Andy Biggs against incumbent Governor Katie Hobbs.

Why it matters

Headquartered in Arizona, the organization views the state as a critical strategic priority for Republicans ahead of the 2028 election cycle. The massive influx of capital reflects an intense effort to flip the governorship despite current polling assessments.

The PAC has poured $18 million into Arizona media buys, a sharp increase over the $270,000 spent in 2022. State rules require PACs to disclose any ad buys exceeding $50,000 within three days.

The players

Turning Point USA

An Arizona-based organization that focuses on mobilizing its voter base and managing high-stakes media campaigns.

Andy Biggs

The Republican nominee for the Arizona gubernatorial race who received an endorsement from Charlie Kirk in 2025.

Katie Hobbs

The incumbent Governor of Arizona who is currently facing a challenge supported by significant PAC spending.

Charlie Kirk

A political activist and leader of Turning Point USA who formally endorsed the Republican gubernatorial nominee.

Democratic Governors Association

A national political committee that committed $10 million in funding to support the re-election campaign of Katie Hobbs.

The details

The PAC focused at least $14 million of its budget on advertising during September 2026, followed by additional $1.7 million buys in early October. Meanwhile, the Democratic Governors Association has committed $10 million to support Governor Katie Hobbs, while the Cook Political Report continues to rate the race as lean Democrat.

In 2022, the PAC spent $270,000 on the gubernatorial race.
Charlie Kirk endorsed Andy Biggs in May 2025.
The Democratic Governors Association committed $10 million during summer 2026.
The PAC spent at least $14 million on ads in September 2026.
Two $1.7 million ad buys were added in early October 2026.

Political Context

The aggressive spending by Turning Point USA challenges the current Cook Political Report rating, which classifies the race as lean Democrat. This infusion of capital serves as a direct rebuttal to the prevailing political sentiment that favors the incumbent's path to victory.

Arizona voters will encounter a significant increase in political advertising across local media platforms as the election approaches. These disclosure requirements ensure that the scale of outside spending remains visible to taxpayers observing the race.

The takeaway

The massive scale of media spending highlights the growing influence of PACs in shaping state-level executive contests. Voters should expect heavy saturation in local ad markets as both sides maneuver for control of the state government.