US Rep Andy Biggs (R- Gilbert) has distanced himself from the Iran War, but his voting record still shows approval of it. Biggs, who has voted in Congress to give President Donald Trump wide latitude in the war, is running to unseat Arizona’s Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs.
As the November 2026 midterm elections approach, the Iran War and its impact on the economy remain a top issue for many Arizona voters.
Inflation remains high in part due to the war, with fuel prices and grocery prices among the most visible ways Americans are paying a higher cost of living. Since the war began in February, Iran retaliated against US attacks by closing the Strait of Hormuz—a critical shipping route—disrupting global oil supplies. As a result, Arizonans have seen a steady rise in gasoline prices, which have increased by more than a dollar in the past year, from $3.19 per gallon to $4.43 per gallon. Arizona drivers already pay some of the highest average fuel prices in the country, and the war puts a further strain on wallets.
A Sept. 15 Congressional Budget Office analysis found that the war was responsible for more than 40% of inflation this year and will likely push inflation into 2027, too.
Where do the gubernatorial candidates stand?
Both candidates running for governor have listed affordability as a top campaign priority.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, running for her second term, has spoken out against the Iran War, saying it has caused a rise in fuel and grocery prices for Arizonans.
“Gas right now is high across the entire country,” Hobbs said in a May interview with KTAR News “That is because of the war in Iran, which last I checked, I had nothing to do with. The president caused this.”
Her Republican challenger, US Rep. Andy Biggs recently told reporters he does not support the war, but has named other issues such as tax cuts and affordability as top campaign priorities.
Despite his rhetorical opposition against the war that has raised costs for Arizonans, Biggs’ voting record in Congress tells a different story: Biggs has voted six times against House resolutions that would have ended hostilities in Iran.
In an official statement following his first vote against the House resolution to end the war on March 5, Biggs affirmed the constitutional role of Congress on matters of war and peace, but framed the resolution as a way of “undermining” the authority of President Donald Trump to confront the threat posed by Iran.
In June, following Biggs’ fourth vote against ending hostilities, he characterized the vote as an attempt at a “gotcha” by Democrats.
“I’m not into embarrassing the president,” Biggs said.
On Sept. 15, Biggs voted for the sixth time against another House resolution ending the Iran War, despite previously saying Congress has the constitutional role of deciding matters of war and peace. A week later, on Sept. 22, he told reporters he didn’t support the war.
“I don’t support the war, per se,” Biggs said. “I think that’s unfortunate that that’s happening. But it’s an unfortunate reality.”
Biggs did not reply to a request for comment by the time of publication.
Shifting stances
Biggs had previously expressed concern about the use of presidential authority to conduct wartime operations without congressional approval in a bipartisan letter. During the Biden administration, he and then-Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) sent a bipartisan letter following 2021 airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.
In the letter, Biggs pointed to Biden’s criticism of Trump’s 2020 airstrike killing Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani as lacking evidence for a self-defense justification, and asked Biden to apply the same criticism to his own administration’s actions.
Biggs’ stance on US military action in Iran also contrasts with his previous stance against Biden administration strikes in 2024 against Houthi forces in Yemen.
Will it matter to voters?
New polling from Data for Progress, a left-leaning think tank, finds that voters nationwide blame the Republican Party for rising gas prices by a 30-point margin.
As Biggs tries to distance himself from the war, advocates with Copper State Victory, a coalition working to reelect Hobbs and other Democrats, have pointed to the votes to show Biggs shouldn’t be trusted as Arizona’s governor.
“Andy Biggs had six chances to lower costs for Arizona families, and six times he chose to raise them instead,” said Copper State Victory spokesperson Nicholas Simões Machado. “Now Arizonans are paying the price because Biggs worries more about protecting Washington than his own constituents.”
The two will face off in the Nov. 3 general election. Early voting begins Oct. 7.
