Arizona held its primary elections on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. A primary is when each political party picks its candidate for the general election in November. This year, Arizona has some of the closest races in the country. NPR

A group called the Cook Political Report rates elections across the country. It labeled two Arizona U.S. House races as "toss ups," meaning either party could win. Only 18 House races nationwide had that rating as of July 2026.

The First Congressional District (Phoenix Area)

This district covers part of the Phoenix area. The seat is open, meaning no current officeholder is running to keep it. Republican Rep. David Schweikert decided to run for governor instead of running for his House seat again. NPR

The Democratic primary was a rematch. Amish Shah, a doctor and former state lawmaker, ran against Marlene Galán-Woods, a former TV journalist. In 2024, Shah beat Galán-Woods in the Democratic primary but then lost to Schweikert in November. Galán-Woods, who was a registered Republican until 2018, had the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That committee is the group that helps elect Democrats to the House. NPR

On the Republican side, the candidates included Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker who had President Trump's endorsement, and Joseph Chaplik, a former state lawmaker who was part of Arizona's right-wing Freedom Caucus. NPR

The Sixth Congressional District (Tucson to the Border)

This district runs from Tucson toward the Mexican border. No one challenged either party's candidate in the primary. Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani, first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024 with 50% of the vote, will face Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, a military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The two will compete directly in November. NPR

The Governor's Race

Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs is running for re-election. She won in 2022 by a narrow margin over Republican Kari Lake. The Republican primary had two current members of Congress: Rep. Andy Biggs and Rep. David Schweikert. Biggs had President Trump's endorsement and the backing of Turning Point Action, a conservative group. Polls showed Biggs leading Schweikert. Biggs voted in Congress against certifying the 2020 presidential election results. NPR

Who Lives in Arizona and How to Vote

More Arizona voters are registered as Republicans than as Democrats or independents, but the difference is small, according to the Arizona Secretary of State's office. Donald Trump won Arizona in the 2024 presidential election. NPR

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes runs the 2026 election. Arizona Secretary of State The general election is November 3, 2026. The last day to register to vote is October 7, 2026. That is also the first day of early voting, when early ballots are mailed out. Arizona Secretary of State

What to Watch in November

The broader context here is that Arizona is a state where Republicans, Democrats, and independents are all competitive. Because the voter registration numbers are so close, turnout and independent voters will probably decide the two toss-up House races and the governor's race.

In the First District, the Democratic Party's decision to back Galán-Woods instead of Shah shows that party leaders think her background and name recognition give her a better chance in a district that Schweikert won even when Trump carried the state. Whether that works depends on which Republican wins the primary, since Trump endorsed Feely while Chaplik appeals to the party's right wing.

In the governor's race, if Biggs wins the Republican nomination, the top of the ticket would be a congressman who voted against certifying the 2020 election. That matters in a state Trump won but where Hobbs became governor by about 17,000 votes. Schweikert's choice to leave his House seat to run for governor, where he was behind in the polls, opened up that seat for Democrats to try to win.