Gov. Katie Hobbs’ campaign is trying to paint her opponent as a debate dodger. But that’s what he says about her.
Four Republicans are competing in the Republican gubernatorial primary. The winner will face Hobbs in November.
Congressman Andy Biggs is a frontrunner, and the Hobbs campaign is going after him for skipping out on a recent candidate forum organized by Sun City West Republicans.
“Basement Biggs skipped the Sun City West Republican forum, the second debate he's skipped after ducking out on a televised PBS candidate forum,” Copper State Victory said in a press release on Friday, citing an article by the Sun City West Independent.
Copper State Victory is the campaign team for Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
The Sun City West Independent article quotes a Biggs staffer, Grant Stieber, as saying that Biggs planned to attend the forum, but pulled out due to a scheduling conflict.
Biggs’ spokesperson Drew Sexton said that’s not accurate and Biggs didn’t commit.
And the group’s vice president, Linda Barnes, also said Biggs never agreed to participate.
“Andy never committed and never said they would be there,” Barnes said in an email.
Meanwhile, Hobbs hasn’t agreed to do any debates or candidates forums this cycle. And, she notably refused to debate her Republican opponent Kari Lake in 2022.
Hobbs also declined to participate in a primary debate in 2022.
Biggs did participate in a debate against all of his Republican opponents facilitated by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission on June 17.
Sexton noted that Biggs has also participated in two other forums with at least one other Republican opponent this cycle. One was at the Legislative District 27 Republican in Glendale. The other was with the Palo Verde Republican Women in Scottsdale.
“We’re done with forums now that early voting has started and ballots have been mailed out,” Sexton said in a text. “We’re focused on taking our message of defeating Katie Hobbs directly to Republican voters at their doorsteps.”
Hobbs’ campaign spokesperson Michael Beyer said in a statement that the time for this conversation is "after the primary.”
“While Gov. Hobbs is out talking to voters and press across the state, Andy Biggs is hiding from forums, debates, and the press,” Beyer said in an email.
Beyer also noted that Hobbs has done several press interviews this year.
As has Biggs.
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