Former President Barack Obama endorses Katie Hobbs in Arizona governor’s race

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PHOENIX – With less than three weeks to go before Election Day, Arizona gubernatorial Democratic nominee Katie Hobbs picked up the endorsement of former President Barack Obama.

In the 30-second spot released on social media Thursday, Obama told Arizona voters candidates weren’t all that was on the ballot.

“Democracy itself is on the line, and Katie Hobbs is up to the challenge,” he said.

The former president went on to say Hobbs would work to protect voters rights and a woman’s right to choose.

When you cast your vote this election, it’s not just candidates on the ballot. Democracy itself is on the line and it’s up to us to defend it. pic.twitter.com/1mI6DO1R70

— Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) October 20, 2022

Hobbs and Republican foe Kari Lake have been engaged in a close, contentious battle to replace termed-out Gov. Doug Ducey.

As of Friday morning, Lake was up by 1.6 percentage points in an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics and .7 points FiveThirtyEight’s polling average.

Lake was endorsed by former President Donald Trump over a year ago.

Arizona last voted a Democrat into the state’s highest office in 2006, reelecting Janet Napolitano, who later served as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security under Obama.

Early voting for the Nov. 8 general election is underway.

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