Hobbs declines debate with Biggs, opting for statewide tour instead

PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs will not debate Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs ahead of the November election, marking the second consecutive governor’s race in which the Democrat has declined to share a debate stage with her Republican opponent.

Hobbs campaign manager Nicole DeMont confirmed the decision Thursday, saying the campaign believes direct engagement with voters is more useful than participating in a traditional televised debate.

“Face-to-face engagement with Arizonans is more effective than a stage designed for short soundbites and political theater,” DeMont said in a statement reported by the Arizona Mirror.

Instead, Hobbs plans to continue traveling the state as part of what her campaign has called the Arizona First Tour. DeMont said the governor had already participated in more than 100 open-press events and interviews while discussing her record and priorities with voters.

The decision means Arizona voters will not see the two major-party nominees for governor debate each other before the Nov. 3 general election, despite a debate planned by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

Clean Elections serves as the state’s official sponsor of candidate debates and said earlier this year that its 2026 debate series was intended to give voters greater access to candidates and more opportunities to hear them discuss policy issues directly.

Biggs, who won the Republican primary July 21, criticized Hobbs’ decision.

“Arizona voters, especially the independent and persuadable voters up for grabs this cycle, deserve to hear from statewide candidates in a traditional debate setting,” Biggs campaign adviser Drew Sexton said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror.

The Biggs campaign said the congressman still planned to participate in the Oct. 6 Clean Elections event, regardless of Hobbs’ attendance.

Hobbs made a similar decision during her successful 2022 campaign for governor.

That year, she declined to debate Republican nominee Kari Lake and instead asked the Clean Elections Commission to hold separate televised interviews with the candidates. The commission rejected that proposal.

Hobbs’ campaign argued at the time that a traditional debate with Lake would devolve into interruptions and personal attacks rather than provide voters with a substantive discussion of issues. Hobbs ultimately defeated Lake by roughly 17,000 votes.

The 2026 decision comes after both campaigns had previously accused the other of avoiding public forums.

Earlier this month, Hobbs’ campaign criticized Biggs for not attending a candidate forum in Sun City West. Biggs’ campaign said he had never committed to participate and cited his appearances at a Clean Elections Republican primary debate and other campaign forums.

Biggs has also faced criticism for skipping debates during previous congressional campaigns. KJZZ reported that he did not participate in debates while seeking reelection to Congress in 2022 and 2024. His campaign has argued that statewide races are different because debates offer candidates a broader opportunity to reach voters across Arizona.

Hobbs’ decision also continues a broader decline in candidate participation in formal debates.

Clean Elections has emphasized debates as a central part of its voter-education mission, but participation remains voluntary for candidates who do not receive public campaign funding.

The governor’s refusal leaves Arizona without a head-to-head gubernatorial debate for the second election cycle in a row.

Biggs and Hobbs will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election.