Turning Point USA’s Arizona state PAC has spent a record amount of money on ads to knock Arizona’s Democratic governor out of office.
The PAC has dropped more than $18 million on media buys supporting Rep. Andy Biggs, the Republican nominee for governor, and attacking Gov. Katie Hobbs, according to state campaign finance records reviewed by The Washington Sun. Biggs was one of the last candidates endorsed by Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point founder who lived in Arizona before his assassination last year.
In response to emailed questions from The Sun, a Turning Point spokesperson said the group is focused on Arizona because that’s where it’s headquartered and because it’s “one of the most important states for Republicans in 2028.”
“There are many people on the Left that hope we fail, however we are simply focused on turning out our own base turnout operation,” the spokesperson said in the email. “We do not dabble much in persuasion, only making sure our own voters get the information and turnout to vote.”
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The state PAC spent roughly $270,000 on the gubernatorial race in 2022, according to Arizona records, a race where Hobbs narrowly defeated Kari Lake. But this year, the group has leaned in, spending at least $14 million in ads in September alone and adding two $1.7 million ad buys and other five-figure media hits at the start of October.
The group didn’t share additional information in response to a written question about spending not reflected in finance records, the most recent of which only cover ad spending. PACs in Arizona must report ad buys of more than $50,000 within three days, with additional reporting requirements for every additional $25,000 beyond that.
Kirk announced his endorsement of Biggs in May 2025 on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and he later gave a speech at a Phoenix rally supporting Biggs’ campaign.
“We are fully endorsing my friend Andy Biggs,” Kirk said on his podcast. “Andy, we are behind you 100%, and we’re excited to make you the next governor of the state of Arizona.”
The Cook Political Report has rated the gubernatorial race as “lean Democrat.”
GOP strategist and Phoenix native Barrett Marson told The Sun that the Biggs campaign is “somewhat flailing” in the run-up to November and that Turning Point’s role in the race could become a “lightning rod.” Earlier this year, when Turning Point waded into a typically sleepy statewide utility-board election, voters responded in record turnout by electing a pro-clean energy majority.
“If Andy Biggs loses, Turning Point loses,” Marson said. “That hurts them probably with donors, their image.”
He said Turning Point’s investment in a tough race for Republicans could hurt the group’s chances of becoming an influential voice in future campaign cycles.
“They are trying to expand nationwide, to be an alternative, if you will, to the RNC,” Marson said. “They’re trying to almost become their own national party, really.”
A source familiar with the Biggs campaign said it is grateful for the spending provided by Turning Point and other groups because it’s a “very difficult race.”
A spokesperson for Hobbs’ campaign dismissed the PAC’s spending as an eleventh-hour “bailout.”
“After Republicans have sounded the alarm for weeks about Biggs’ floundering campaign, this 15 million dollar bailout from Kari Lake’s allies will not change Biggs’ toxic record that is too extreme for Arizona,” Michael Beyer, the campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.
Turning Point has also spent money to support other Arizona Republicans in down-ballot races, including the candidates in the secretary of state and attorney general races.
The Democratic Governors Association committed $10 million in the summer to support Hobbs, while the Republican Governors Association has yet to spend money on behalf of Biggs. The RGA did not comment.
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