Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes bill to rename Loop 202 after Charlie Kirk, accused of breaking ‘tradition’

PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill Friday that was to rename the entirety of Arizona’s 78-mile long Loop 202 after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Arizona State Senate President Warren Petersen introduced the idea shortly after Kirk’s assassination last September, and in a statement, accused Hobbs of breaking “a long-standing Arizona tradition of recognizing impact over politics.”

The dismissal of Senate Bill 1010, which would have dubbed the freeway “Charlie Kirk Loop 202,” comes after Hobbs vetoed a prior bill (SB 1439) on March 6 that proposed a specialty license plate for Kirk.

Petersen added that Hobb’s veto “tells people that recognition now depends on political alignment, not contribution.”

“This veto makes it clear that standard (of impact and service) has changed,” Petersen said Friday. “That’s not how Arizona has ever approached these decisions, and it’s a disappointing shift for our state.”

Rep. Andy Biggs in a separate statement said, “Katie Hobbs wants us to forget about Charlie Kirk. We won’t. And we will honor him by voting her out (of governor’s office) in November.”

What was proposed in Charlie Kirk Loop 202 bill?

The bill called for all official acts, state records, documents and papers relating to Loop 202 to use the new name and for the Arizona Department of Transportation to “erect a reasonable amount of signage” with the moniker.

The names of the underlying Loop 202 segments — Red Mountain, Santan and South Mountain (aka Congressman Ed Pastor) — would not be affected.

The bill passed along party lines in the Senate on Feb. 18 and the House on March 18.

“Charlie devoted his life to building a national movement centered on American values, civic engagement and open dialogue, and he called Arizona home,” Petersen said in a press release after the House vote. “He inspired millions of Americans, especially young people, to think independently, speak with conviction and take an active role in shaping the future of their communities and their country. Designating Loop 202 in his honor ensures that legacy is recognized and remembered for generations to come.”

KTAR News Senior Editor Kevin Stone contributed to this report.

Related

Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes bill that would have created a license plate for the late Charlie KirkArizona Republicans pass bill to rename Loop 202 after Charlie Kirk, send it to Gov. HobbsElection changes could lead to quicker results in Maricopa County, Adrian Fontes saysLive updates for Arizona’s 2026 midterm primaries: What voters are sayingArizona voters to choose Republican and Democratic nominees for top education positionAndy Biggs, David Schweikert offer competing visions for Republican Party in Arizona primary