Arizona’s political landscape is set for a showdown as Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, known for his controversial legislative decisions, is poised to challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Central to Biggs’ political narrative is his 2018 vote against the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, a decision that continues to draw public attention.
Biggs was among a minority of 25 lawmakers who opposed the legislation aimed at tackling online sex trafficking. The act was designed to empower state authorities to target websites facilitating sex trafficking and introduced new federal penalties for online promotion of prostitution. Despite Biggs’ opposition, the law received overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, with backing from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
The congressman’s stance on this issue has led to scrutiny over his record on protecting victims of sexual abuse. Notably, in 2013, during his tenure as Arizona Senate leader, Biggs opposed efforts to dismantle a local police department allegedly shielding a religious sect accused of abusing young girls.
Further controversy arose last year when Biggs initially voted in a committee against releasing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation. However, he later supported the files’ release during a floor vote.
Rep. David Schweikert, a former rival in the Republican gubernatorial primary, criticized Biggs, accusing him of “voting against protecting our children from really, really bad actors.” This critique comes amid a competitive political race, with a July poll by the Terrance Group indicating that Hobbs holds a narrow four-point lead over Biggs.
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