Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, who has drawn criticism for ties to white nationalist figures, will formally be the Republican nominee for Arizona governor, after profitable the first on Tuesday evening.
Biggs, who’s backed by President Donald Trump, has drawn criticism for encouraging Stew Peters, an web persona, and showing on his present. Peters has labeled Judaism a “dying cult” and has referred to as for a “last answer” that entails the deportation of American Jews, and a number of watchdogs determine him as selling antisemitism.
“Preserve preaching,” Biggs advised Peters on the finish of his June 2023 look on the present, throughout which they mentioned authorities corruption and Biggs agreed with Peters that the FBI ought to be abolished.
Biggs, 67, who received handily with 73.4% of votes in response to a number of media retailers, will problem Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in what is anticipated to be a aggressive race in November. Biggs has represented Arizona’s fifth Congressional District, which is outdoors of Phoenix, since 2017.
His opponent within the GOP main, Rep. David Schweikert, had put out a marketing campaign mailer in March tying Biggs to white supremacy and antisemitism. The mailer featured mentions of Biggs’ interview with Peters in addition to Biggs’ endorsement of Texas GOP candidate Brandon Herrera, who owned a replica of “Mein Kampf.”
Biggs’ marketing campaign didn’t reply to the Jewish Telegraphic Company’s request for remark, however in an area TV interview final month he referred to as the accusations politically motivated and stated, “This notion that I’m antisemitic is completely probably the most ludicrous, insane arguments ever.”
In 2024, Biggs opposed the bipartisan Antisemitism Consciousness Act, which handed within the Home of Representatives. Biggs wrote that he opposes antisemitism and that the “pro-Hamas, pro-genocide, anti-Israel occasions occurring throughout the nation are sickening.” He rejected the laws, he stated, as a result of it was “so poorly drafted that it violates the Structure and will have severe ramifications for the Christian neighborhood.” Proper wing Republicans objected particularly to the invoice citing a definition of antisemitism that included for example the declare that the Jews killed Jesus.
That very same yr, Biggs attended a rally co-sponsored by the Proud Boys, an extremist militia fashion group. In 2019, he spoke at a “Patriotism over Socialism” rally in Arizona, which watchdogs warned would draw extremist teams.
Media Issues, a bunch that principally displays right-wing teams, in 2023 wrote that “the hyperlinks between Biggs and far-right extremists have been well-documented,” citing amongst different issues his ties to a different far-right group, the Oath Keepers.
The Republican Jewish Coalition didn’t reply to a query over whether or not it could assist Biggs’ run for governor.
At a marketing campaign occasion on Tuesday, Hobbs skewered Biggs for his denial of Trump’s 2020 election loss, and for not acknowledging Hobbs’ slender 2022 gubernatorial victory over Republican Kari Lake.
Reporting the tales that outline our period. When historical past unfolds in real-time, the Jewish world turns to JTA. Your assist ensures we will doc the complexities of battle and the resilience of Jewish communities with integrity.
