Andy Biggs plays it safe with his lieutenant governor pick
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Andy Biggs and his "LG" pick, former state Sen. Sine Kerr. Photo: Zach Buchanan/Axios
Former state lawmaker Sine Kerr, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs' running mate in his bid for governor, isn't considered as politically extreme as he is — but she probably won't broaden the congressman's appeal, veteran political consultants tell Axios.
Why it matters: Kerr is strongly conservative. But Biggs, who is considered one of the most extreme members of Congress, needs to woo moderate Republicans and independents to beat incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs in November.
Catch up quick: Biggs announced Kerr, who most recently served as the Arizona executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, as his lieutenant governor pick on Friday.
What they're saying: "It is certainly a safe, conservative pick," GOP consultant Barrett Marson tells Axios. "Won't rock the boat. Won't make much of a difference."
State of play: A longtime dairy farmer, Kerr has deep agricultural ties in the state.
- But Biggs has "got rural Arizona, and he has the agricultural community in support of him," Chuck Coughlin, a longtime political consultant who has historically worked for Republican candidates, tells Axios.
Zoom in: Tyler Montague, another Republican consultant, concedes that Kerr maybe helps with rural turnout, but says, "I don't think she woos moderates very well."
- Working against Kerr are her votes for the Cyber Ninjas audit of the 2020 presidential election — the results of which Biggs attempted to overturn — and her support of a complete abortion ban.
Yes, but: Kerr told Axios on Friday that the 2020 election had "gone through the courts and it's been proven that Biden won. We have to accept that."
- She also said that "the voters spoke" in 2024 when they passed Proposition 139, which added abortion access to the state constitution.
Zoom out: The consultants say Biggs would have done better to pick Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who has more name recognition than Kerr and has won elections on a larger stage than she has.
The other side: At a campaign event Friday, Biggs said Kerr checked several boxes, including having experience in the legislature, federal government and private business. She also "could connect to a different demographic," specifically rural communities.
- "Sine brings the ability to connect with everywhere else, and I bring the ability to take Maricopa County," said Biggs, who lives in Gilbert.