Katie Hobbs’ Emerges as Arizona Governor Amidst GOP’s Antics
On Monday, Democrat Katie Hobbs won the Arizona governor election, defeating a supporter of Donald Trump who had wrongly suggested that the 2020 election would be rigged. According to the Associated Press, Democrat Katie Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake in a come-from-behind victory after a contentious race in which both her supporters and opponents attacked her for running a weak campaign.
On Monday night, Arizona’s most populous county released a new round of votes that pushed the count toward its conclusion. To bridge any remaining gaps, Lake campaigners leaned heavily on mail ballots cast during election day, with analysts predicting an influx of Republican supporters filling out their absentee rolls. Ultimately Donald Trump emerged as the victor in this key battleground state by winning the majority vote from those who chose to submit their tallies via post.
Kari Lake was predicted to be a harbinger of turmoil by Hobbs, who gained fame as a fierce supporter of the validity of the most recent election. The election of Hobbs is another proof that Trump is pressuring his allies in a vital battleground state as he prepares to declare his candidature for president in 2024. Interestingly, after Janet Napolitano in 2006, she is the first Democrat to be the elected governor of Arizona.
Pre-election Circumstances
When Donald Trump and his allies launched into a tumultuous battle for Arizona’s 2020 election, Katie Hobbs quickly stepped up in her role as secretary of state. Amidst swirling controversy, she emerged firmly committed to upholding an accurate vote count – demonstrating courage through every television news appearance.
Hobbs launched a cautious campaign, mostly adhering to rehearsed and scripted appearances in public. She refused to engage in discussion with Lake because she believed Lake would make it into a show by spouting conspiracies and making untrue claims. Instead, she staked that voters would turn against Lake, who engaged in heated exchanges with reporters while cameras were rolling and adopted an aggressive demeanor towards Democrats and even the establishment Republicans who have long controlled state politics.
Thanks to the publicity, Katie Hobbs raised millions of dollars and boosted her profile. Some well-known Democrats decided not to run when Hobbs declared her bid for governor, and she easily won the seat.
Even though pre-election polls indicated a draw, Hobb’s victory surprised many Democrats who believed her hesitancy would alienate voters. She exceeded expectations in Maricopa and Pima counties, the metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson, where the vast majority of Arizona voters reside. She also spent a lot of time in rural areas in an effort to reduce her losses in places that typically go Republican.
Hobb’s History
Prior to her career in politics, Katie Hobbs worked as a social worker at a renowned domestic violence shelter in the Phoenix region and with homeless youth. She was elected to the state legislature in 2010 and served one term in the House before moving up to minority leader after three years in the Senate.
