COLORADO CITY, AZ — Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs, who is running for governor, visited Colorado City this week alongside fellow Representative Paul Gosar for meet-and-greet events with constituents.
The visit marked an early campaign stop for Biggs as he seeks to move from his current position representing Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District to the state’s highest office.
Meet-and-Greet Events Held
The congressmen held a meet-and-greet session at Ten Forty Five on Tuesday evening, followed by a Wednesday morning event at Sweet Sage Coffee. Also in attendance were Grace Hecht and Catherine Lopez-Rajaniemi, both candidates running for Arizona State House in Legislative District 30.
Colorado City Mayor Howard Ream introduced the congressmen to the crowd, welcoming them to the “North Star of Arizona.” Gosar then introduced his good friend and colleague to those gathered. The two congressmen spoke throughout the events, passing the microphone back and forth as they engaged with residents.
Focus on Housing Affordability
Biggs made housing affordability a central theme of his remarks, sharing a personal story about buying his first home in Gilbert for $83,000 for 1,126 square feet. He contrasted this with a young person he met recently who paid $308,000 for a 1,500 square foot first home.
“This is the kind of thing that’s going on all over our state,” Biggs said. “And when you have to spend so much on that first house, we don’t buy that first house. When they don’t buy that first house, the other things don’t happen.” He emphasized that affordable homeownership enables family formation and strengthens the middle class, which he called essential to restoring Arizona’s economy.
Biggs said addressing housing costs requires better management of water, power, and land resources—areas where he said the current governor has fallen short.
Election Integrity and First-Week Agenda
Biggs criticized Governor Katie Hobbs for vetoing election reform legislation, stating, “The first bill of the 400-some bills that she vetoed last year was an election integrity bill.” He promised to restore the bill and implement a Florida-style model where election results would be known within hours of polls closing rather than weeks.
The congressman outlined an aggressive legislative strategy for his first days in office, explaining that the day after the November election, he would meet with newly elected Republican leadership in the state House and Senate to begin reviewing vetoed bills.
“By the end of the first week, there will be 75 to 150 bills on my desk,” Biggs said, “including election integrity, including the 21 rural water bills that were vetoed by this governor, including school choice protection bills.”
Commitment to Rural Arizona
Biggs acknowledged the challenges facing Colorado City and other rural Arizona communities, noting that similar concerns exist in towns like Safford and St. Johns. He pledged that as governor, he would make regular visits to Colorado City and other small rural cities and towns, utilizing state resources including access to airplanes and helicopters.
“I understand how Colorado City feels when it comes to Arizona,” Biggs said, emphasizing his commitment to ensuring rural areas receive adequate attention from state leadership.
Additional Topics Discussed
Throughout the events, Biggs and Gosar addressed a range of issues important to rural Arizona, including public safety, border security, energy policy, and natural resource management. Biggs emphasized the importance of supporting law enforcement statewide and securing Arizona’s southern border.
The congressmen also discussed energy policy, with Biggs advocating for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and natural gas as cleaner, more affordable energy sources. They highlighted mining opportunities in the region, particularly uranium deposits, as potential economic drivers for rural communities.
Attendees raised concerns about local issues, including school choice challenges in Fredonia. Biggs and Gosar committed to working with their staff to address specific constituent concerns.
Gosar praised Biggs throughout the events, calling him effective and capable of bringing meaningful change to Arizona. “This is the guy that we need to change the state,” Gosar said.
Biggs Brings Conservative Credentials to Governor’s Race
First elected to Congress in 2016, Biggs has established himself as a prominent conservative voice in Washington. He currently serves on two key House committees: Judiciary, where he chairs the Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, and Oversight and Government Reform.
His leadership roles have included a two-year tenure as Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, and he currently serves as Co-chair of the Border Security Caucus and Co-founder of the bipartisan War Powers Caucus.
Before his congressional career, Biggs spent 14 years in the Arizona Legislature, serving eight years in the State House of Representatives and six in the State Senate, where he was elected Senate President in 2012.
Strong Conservative Ratings
Biggs’ voting record has earned him top marks from several conservative organizations, including a perfect 100% lifetime rating from both the Club for Growth and National Right to Life. He also holds a 99% rating from NumbersUSA, 97% from the American Conservative Union, and 93% from Heritage Action for America.
Background and Family
A retired attorney licensed to practice in Arizona, Washington, and New Mexico, Biggs holds a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from Brigham Young University, a master’s in Political Science from Arizona State University, and a law degree from the University of Arizona.
An Arizona native, Biggs has lived in Gilbert with his wife, Cindy, for more than 35 years. The couple has six children and eleven grandchildren.
Before concluding the events, Biggs asked attendees for their vote in the upcoming election and encouraged them to pick up campaign materials, including yard signs and information cards.
