GOP lawmakers seek to climb political ladder as Hill members launch gubernatorial bids

As Republicans in the House and Senate begin launching gubernatorial bids, state and other Capitol Hill GOP lawmakers see an opportunity to advance their political careers.

Former Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb said he has been looking to run for the House, following Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs' announcement that he would be running for governor of his home state. 

"I've talked to Congressman Andy Biggs a lot about it, who I hope is our next governor," Lamb said on the "Furthermore with Amanda Head" podcast when asked about potentially running for Congress. "We've had a lot of conversations."

Lamb, who was a 2024 Senate candidate and served eight years as the Pinal County sheriff, also said: "I've spent a lot of time in D.C. I am absolutely giving it strong consideration." 

Lambs says right now he is having conversations with his family about whether he should jump in the race.

"If I feel like I can make a difference in some way to protect God, family, freedom, the Constitution, guns ... all of those things, then absolutely I would," he said. "I would do it, but I've always had a saying, [that] just because you can, doesn't mean you should. And my family and I are certainly weighing out whether we should make that move."

Among the congressional Republicans launching 2026 gubernatorial bids are Sens. Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama, and Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, as well as South Carolina Reps. Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace.

Tennessee GOP Reps. Tim Burchett and Andy Ogles confirmed to The Hill newspaper earlier this month that they are interested in potentially running for Blackburn's seat. 

“Definitely interested in it," Ogles told the news outlet. "I’ve expressed my interest."

Burchett said he hasn't spoken to Blackburn about the possibility of running, but he has a good relationship with her.

“We sat beside each other in the state Senate," he said. "Literally, she was on my right hand, I was on her left. We’ve had a great friendship."

With Tuberville running for governor, Rep. Barry Moore announced earlier this week that he would be running for the seat in 2026.

"I’m running for U.S. Senate because the people of Alabama deserve a Trump conservative and a working man who will defend their freedoms," Moore said in a statement on the social media platform X.