Arizona · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on water?
Andy BiggsRepublican
Katie HobbsDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full Arizona Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Water
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Andy Biggs
Calls water mainly a management issue and proposes a long-term state water strategy, measuring the state's aquifers, and pumping and treating brackish groundwater.
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- Campaign proposal
His platform calls for convening the state's water experts to develop a long-term water strategy, fighting for "every drop" of Arizona's allocated Colorado River water, and accurately measuring and reporting on the state's aquifers. SourceIssues - Andy Biggs for Governor (opens in a new tab)Biggs for Arizona · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
In the Oct. 6 debate, said the problem is water management and that Arizona has "massive and copious amounts of underground water storage," and called for pumping and treating brackish groundwater, more storage such as at Bartlett Dam, water recycling and desalination. In a 12News interview published Oct. 13, he said the state needs a leader who can make its case to the other Colorado River Basin states. 3 sourcesCongressman Andy Biggs, Teri Hourihan spar on debate stage in Arizona governor's race (opens in a new tab)ABC15 Arizona · Oct. 7, 2026 · NewsArizona governor candidates clash over water, taxes, and data centers (opens in a new tab)FOX 10 Phoenix · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsArizona Governor’s Race: Andy Biggs weighs in on fuel prices, water and Hobbs’ debate absence (opens in a new tab)12News (KPNX), via Yahoo News · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal
His platform calls for convening the state's water experts to develop a long-term water strategy, fighting for "every drop" of Arizona's allocated Colorado River water, and accurately measuring and reporting on the state's aquifers. SourceIssues - Andy Biggs for Governor (opens in a new tab)Biggs for Arizona · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 6, 2026
In the Oct. 6 debate, said the problem is water management and that Arizona has "massive and copious amounts of underground water storage," and called for pumping and treating brackish groundwater, more storage such as at Bartlett Dam, water recycling and desalination. In a 12News interview published Oct. 13, he said the state needs a leader who can make its case to the other Colorado River Basin states. 3 sourcesCongressman Andy Biggs, Teri Hourihan spar on debate stage in Arizona governor's race (opens in a new tab)ABC15 Arizona · Oct. 7, 2026 · NewsArizona governor candidates clash over water, taxes, and data centers (opens in a new tab)FOX 10 Phoenix · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsArizona Governor’s Race: Andy Biggs weighs in on fuel prices, water and Hobbs’ debate absence (opens in a new tab)12News (KPNX), via Yahoo News · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
Katie Hobbs
Her administration created new groundwater Active Management Areas; she says she is not interested in relaxing groundwater protections and supports a rural groundwater management framework.
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- Past actionDec. 20, 2024
Her administration's Department of Water Resources designated the Willcox Groundwater Basin an Active Management Area in December 2024, the first new AMA since the original five of 1980 apart from the voter-established Douglas AMA. In January 2026 she announced a new AMA in the Ranegras Plain basin of La Paz County. 3 sourcesHobbs Administration Takes Historic Action to Protect Rural Groundwater Supplies (opens in a new tab)Office of the Arizona Governor · Dec. 20, 2024 · GovernmentArizona’s groundwater future hinges on 2026 election (opens in a new tab)Arizona Capitol Times · Oct. 1, 2026 · NewsGovernor Katie Hobbs Lays Out Plan to Lower Costs and Put Arizona First in Her Fourth State of the State (opens in a new tab)Office of the Arizona Governor · Jan. 2026 · Government
- Public statementSept. 2026
Quoted by KJZZ in September 2026 as saying she is "not interested in relaxing our state's groundwater protection" and, of desalination, that "we're not anywhere close to having a specific project in the works." On Sept. 3, 2026, told reporters she would like to see the rural groundwater framework recommended by her Water Policy Council implemented. 2 sourcesHobbs, Biggs have wildly different water plans. Voters will choose conservation or augmentation (opens in a new tab)KJZZ · Sept. 8, 2026 · NewsArizona’s groundwater future hinges on 2026 election (opens in a new tab)Arizona Capitol Times · Oct. 1, 2026 · News
- Past actionDec. 20, 2024
Her administration's Department of Water Resources designated the Willcox Groundwater Basin an Active Management Area in December 2024, the first new AMA since the original five of 1980 apart from the voter-established Douglas AMA. In January 2026 she announced a new AMA in the Ranegras Plain basin of La Paz County. 3 sourcesHobbs Administration Takes Historic Action to Protect Rural Groundwater Supplies (opens in a new tab)Office of the Arizona Governor · Dec. 20, 2024 · GovernmentArizona’s groundwater future hinges on 2026 election (opens in a new tab)Arizona Capitol Times · Oct. 1, 2026 · NewsGovernor Katie Hobbs Lays Out Plan to Lower Costs and Put Arizona First in Her Fourth State of the State (opens in a new tab)Office of the Arizona Governor · Jan. 2026 · Government
- Public statementSept. 2026
Quoted by KJZZ in September 2026 as saying she is "not interested in relaxing our state's groundwater protection" and, of desalination, that "we're not anywhere close to having a specific project in the works." On Sept. 3, 2026, told reporters she would like to see the rural groundwater framework recommended by her Water Policy Council implemented. 2 sourcesHobbs, Biggs have wildly different water plans. Voters will choose conservation or augmentation (opens in a new tab)KJZZ · Sept. 8, 2026 · NewsArizona’s groundwater future hinges on 2026 election (opens in a new tab)Arizona Capitol Times · Oct. 1, 2026 · News
In their own words
Statements
Andy Biggs
Colorado River water supply
The goal of this legislation is simple: add new water, strengthen the Basin, and protect the farms, communities, and military installations that depend on the Colorado River
Andy Biggs · Statement in his congressional office's press release announcing the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act · Sept. 16, 2026
SourceCongressman Biggs Introduces the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act (opens in a new tab)Office of U.S. Representative Andy Biggs · Sept. 16, 2026 · Government
Katie Hobbs
Groundwater regulation
I am not interested in relaxing our state's groundwater protection. I mean, we have some of the strongest groundwater protection in the country with a 100-year assured water supply
Katie Hobbs · Quoted in a KJZZ report published Sept. 8, 2026, comparing the candidates' water plans · Sept. 8, 2026
SourceHobbs, Biggs have wildly different water plans. Voters will choose conservation or augmentation (opens in a new tab)KJZZ · Sept. 8, 2026 · News
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