All articles tagged with #katie hobbs
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, facing a tough reelection, tapped former Mesa mayor John Giles—a lifelong Republican who recently became an independent—as her running mate to broaden appeal to independents in a partisan race against Rep. Andy Biggs, who has President Trump’s endorsement; the race is viewed as Lean Democratic by Cook Political Report.
President Trump's influence was on display in Arizona as his endorsed candidates swept GOP primaries, with Andy Biggs winning the Republican nomination for governor and other Trump-backed contenders like Mark Lamb in the 5th District and Jay Feely in the 1st District advancing; Juan Ciscomani advanced in the 6th District. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs cruised to renomination unopposed, while in the 4th District Rep. Greg Stanton narrowly held off Kai Newkirk, muting a potential left-wing upset. The results set up a high-stakes general election between Hobbs and Biggs, highlighting Trump's continuing sway in a key battleground state and creating an open-seat dynamic in the 1st District.
Trump-endorsed Rep. Andy Biggs won the Republican primary for Arizona governor, defeating Rep. David Schweikert and advancing to a November showdown against Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. The race in a battleground state has become a tossup, with Hobbs leading in fundraising and Biggs pivoting to a general-election message as both sides prepare for a marquee contest.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill to create a Charlie Kirk memorial license plate, arguing it would politicize government and fail to bring people together, despite the bill’s approval in the Senate (16-2) and House (31-23); the plate would have directed a portion of the $25 fee and $17 annual donation to the Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund tied to Turning Point USA.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced her bid for reelection, emphasizing a pragmatic approach focused on issues like affordable housing and border security, while navigating a politically divided state and facing Republican challengers endorsed by Trump in the upcoming 2026 election.
Arizona's Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, is considering a primary challenge against Governor Katie Hobbs, reflecting internal Democratic Party tensions following disappointing 2024 election results. Fontes, encouraged by some Democrats who view Hobbs as politically vulnerable, has not yet decided on running. Hobbs, who narrowly defeated a Republican opponent in 2022, faces criticism for her campaign strategies and handling of Latino voter concerns, though she retains significant support from party leaders and a majority approval rating among Arizonans.
On a recent episode of 'The Daily Show,' Jon Stewart acknowledged the anxiety surrounding election results, humorously noting it boosts ratings. The show featured segments with Troy Iwata, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, and Jordan Klepper, with Iwata humorously commenting on the Trump campaign. Senator John Fetterman was scheduled to appear but canceled last minute, with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs stepping in, expressing optimism about her state's results. Stewart joked about Hobbs winning a fictional race to be his best friend.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs criticized Republican lawmakers for celebrating the Dobbs decision, which led to the state Supreme Court upholding a 160-year-old abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. The court ruled that the ban, passed when Arizona was a territory, is now enforceable after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Hobbs urged the state legislature to repeal the ban and protect access to reproductive care, emphasizing that the extreme ban will prevent people from getting necessary care.
Joshua Russell, 46, of Ohio, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to kill Katie Hobbs, Arizona's secretary of state at the time and a candidate for governor. He pleaded guilty to making death threats via voice messages during the 2022 midterm election season. In a letter filed in court, Russell apologized to Hobbs and cited anger, drug, and alcohol abuse as factors in making the threats.
Joshua Russell, who made death threats against then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison. This comes after a separate individual was sentenced to three and a half years for making a bomb threat against Hobbs in 2021. The Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force has charged roughly 20 defendants for engaging in threats to the elections community, with seven federal cases involving out-of-state individuals making threats in Arizona. US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that threatening violence against election workers will have consequences, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute such cases.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have allowed local authorities to arrest, jail, and deport migrants for crossing into the state illegally, citing concerns about its constitutionality and potential harm to communities and businesses. The bill, known as the Arizona Border Invasion Act, aimed to make border crossings a misdemeanor and permit judges to order deportations. This move comes amid a surge of migration in Arizona and follows a similar legal battle in Texas.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs criticized the Arizona Board of Regents for their oversight of the University of Arizona's financial crisis, demanding an immediate in-person meeting with the board and university president. Hobbs also condemned ABOR Chair Fred DuVal's legal threats against UA Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson, calling it a failure of leadership. The governor expressed concerns about the UA's purchase of Ashford University and the lack of accountability, stating that people's livelihoods are at risk and college affordability is under threat.
False claims circulated on social media and conservative news sites suggesting that Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs had abruptly resigned or vanished entirely when she was out of state for meetings in Washington. In reality, Hobbs was away for a day, and the state treasurer briefly served as acting governor in her absence, as per Arizona's constitution. Hobbs returned to Arizona and resumed her duties, attending an event with President Joe Biden. The misinformation surrounding her absence highlights the ongoing targeting of Hobbs with false information since taking office.
Former Republican candidate for governor Kari Lake has vowed to appeal her latest courtroom loss in her effort to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Lake lost the Governor's Office to Hobbs by 17,117 votes, less than 1 percentage point. Lake has had an unusual two trials in her election challenge, both of which she lost after she was unable to present evidence to back up her claims of official misconduct and faulty procedures. Lake repeatedly made false claims that contradicted the latest ruling and that were not substantiated by two other courts.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed four election bills passed by the state legislature, including one that would have allowed political party-appointed individuals to observe the signature verification process and another that would have required the secretary of state to recuse themselves from overseeing elections in which they are a candidate. Hobbs also vetoed a bill that would have released more voter registration and ballot image data to the public and another that would have required 100% of the components of a voting or tabulating machine to be sourced in the United States, which she said could create a situation where Arizona’s election administrators are no longer able to procure certifiable voting and tabulating equipment.