Republicans with knowledge of the governor’s thinking say he’ll have to remain deferential to Trump and the White House while also taking care not to alienate a statewide electorate ahead of a tough reelection fight in November.

Ducey — a former Coldstone Creamery chief executive — was hesitant to publicly endorse Trump in 2016 but showed up to at least two closed-door campaign events for him before the election, said one Republican close to the governor.

He has since appeared at official White House gatherings, notably on border security, though he’s remained cautious about where he’s seen with the president, skipping a Trump rally in Phoenix last year. Ducey, who is close to Vice President Mike Pence, instead met Trump on the tarmac as he arrived in Arizona.