All articles tagged with #katie hobbs
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.
Kari Lake, a Republican candidate for Arizona governor, has lost her last legal claim in her lawsuit challenging her loss to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the 2022 election. The judge dismissed Lake's claim that the signature review process for mail-in ballots in Maricopa County was tainted by misconduct. Lake lost the election to Hobbs by roughly 17,000 votes and sued claiming ballot printers in the county were inaccurate and signatures on mail-in ballots were not properly reviewed as required by state law. Lake has earned a significant following with Trump supporters and is openly considering a bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kyrsten Sinema.
An Arizona judge rejected the final lawsuit brought by Republican Kari Lake, affirming Democrat Katie Hobbs won the 2022 election for governor. Lake's team did not present "clear and convincing evidence or a preponderance of evidence" that misconduct was committed in the 2022 Arizona election. Arizona was a key battleground for governor and Senate in 2022, and likely will be again for president in 2024.
A three-day trial is set to begin over the only remaining legal claim in Republican Kari Lake’s challenge of her defeat six months ago to Democrat Katie Hobbs in the Arizona governor’s race. Lake’s lawsuit challenges the implementation of signature verification procedures on early ballots in Maricopa County. The Arizona Supreme Court revived one claim that alleges Maricopa County officials failed to perform any higher level signature verifications on mail-in ballots that had been flagged by lower level screeners for any inconsistencies. Lake faces a high bar in proving not only her allegation over signature verification efforts but also that it affected the outcome of her race.