{"id":243,"date":"2026-06-18T13:34:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phoenixrelocationnews.com\/?p=243"},"modified":"2026-06-18T13:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:34:24","slug":"biggs-applauds-hobbs-data-center-crackdown-at-gop-governor-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phoenixrelocationnews.com\/?p=243","title":{"rendered":"Biggs applauds Hobbs\u2019 data center crackdown at GOP governor debate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Compared to recent GOP primary debates, Wednesday\u2019s showdown between gubernatorial candidates Andy Biggs and David Schweikert was downright friendly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Barely any mud was slung, save for a late dig by Schweikert about Biggs\u2019 ties to Turning Point USA. Schweikert did not repeat his attacks, made in interviews and in mailers, that Biggs is too cozy with white supremacists. Biggs didn\u2019t utter a negative word about his congressional colleague. Those hoping for high drama were likely disappointed.<\/p>\n

And those hoping to hear Biggs, the far-right congressman, slam Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and fellow \u201cleftists\u201d were probably surprised. Biggs leveled some criticisms against the woman he hopes to unseat in November, hitting her over rising housing costs, gas prices, a lack of wage growth and an alleged \u201cpay-to-play\u201d scheme involving a group home provider. But at one point, he also \u2014 bizarrely \u2014 seemed to cut a campaign ad for Hobbs and some of the state\u2019s other prominent Democrats.<\/p>\n

The question was about data centers. With looming negotiations over the Colorado River\u2019s dwindling water supply, the candidates at Wednesday\u2019s debate were asked about thirsty data centers that have poured into Arizona. Many require a massive amount of water that could become increasingly scarce in the state.<\/p>\n

Hobbs\u2019 latest budget, negotiated with Republicans in the Arizona Legislature, looks to address that. It placed a three-year moratorium on new sales tax breaks for data center projects, which Democrats and Hobbs have trumpeted as the major budget concession they won from Republicans. Would Biggs have done the same thing?<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it is the right move at this time,\u201d Biggs said, adding that \u201cit\u2019s a great idea that the legislature put together. I\u2019m grateful the governor finally signed a budget that had it in it where you put that moratorium.\u201d He added that he\u2019s told data center brokers it\u2019s a policy he\u2019d continue as \u201cyou\u2019re not gonna be treated special any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The subtle attempt to retcon the tax break moratorium as a Republican priority was disingenuous, but what came next from Biggs was especially odd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking perhaps to boost his bipartisan credentials \u2014 a stretch for one of the proudest members of the far-right Freedom Caucus in Congress \u2014 Biggs then name-dropped other prominent Democrats. He spoke about working with Sen. Mark Kelly to release water from the Flaming Gorge Recreational Area in Utah and talked about how he and Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton secured water funding.<\/p>\n

Why the sudden bonhomie between Biggs and Democrats? That might partly reflect the bipartisan agreement between Republicans and Democrats in the state that Arizona needs to be aggressive about addressing water issues. It also might be part of an attempt by Biggs, who is not seen as the most centrist candidate in the race, to woo the bloc of Independent voters who make up a plurality of the electorate.<\/p>\n

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At any rate, it was eyebrow-raising. Though perhaps not the most bizarre moment of the debate.<\/p>\n

Scott Neely \u2014 a business owner with no shot at the nomination, despite his declaration on Wednesday that he will<\/em> be governor \u2014 also took a hard line on data centers. Forget ending tax breaks, though: Neely said he\u2019d demand that every data center build desalination plants \u201cat a cost to them.\u201d Desalination plants are absurdly expensive to build and operate, which is why there are so few of them. During the post-debate press conference, Neely was asked whether this proposal might drive data centers to go elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they don\u2019t want to come to Arizona, don\u2019t come to Arizona,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

Other notable moments included:<\/p>\n