GILBERT, AZ — Arizona’s 5th Congressional District is as red as it gets. Very conservative, Pro-Trump, and yes many voters thought the election was stolen, just like their Congressman Andy Biggs. Just hours before protesters rioted at the Capitol, Congressman Biggs told ABC15, “I don't know what they were thinking. But I know they're enthusiastic. I know they are fed up and I know they're angry.”
The organizer of the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally said Congressman Biggs helped with the planning. The congressman denies it. But an OH Predictive Insights Poll, which will be released Friday morning, suggests a growing number of CD5 voters don’t believe him.
“30% of his base believes these allegations are true. That’s a problem,” says pollster Mike Noble of OH Predictive Insights.
Noble says nearly half of Biggs’ district knows about the riots at the Capitol. And according to Noble, they believe if the congressman was involved, he should be held accountable.
“A significant portion of Republicans in fact say, if he played a role in those events, and again we don’t know the full answer to that, but if true he could be in some hot water in the desert,” Noble said.
Congressman Biggs is coming under increased scrutiny. Two of his brothers, William and Daniel told the Arizona Republic, in a story published Thursday, that he should be removed from office. Telling the Arizona Republic he is “at least partially to blame” for the Capitol riot.
ABC15 Election Guru Garrett Archer said, “I think it would be incumbent of a congressman that is under these sorts of observations, that he should go back and take the temperature of his district.”
At least publicly, the congressman is defiant. On Thursday he refused to comply with President Biden’s executive order to wear a mask in federal buildings and refused to be wanded by security after he set off a magnetometer when he entered the capitol. When he returns to the district he might encounter some constituents who are not happy with him. They’ll want an explanation about the events of January 6 and what if any role he had in provoking it.
