ARIZONA NEWS

Hoffman declares victory over Riggs in supt. of public instruction race

Nov 11, 2018, 5:23 PM | Updated: 7:25 pm

(Facebook Photo/Kathy Hoffman for Superintendent)

PHOENIX — Democrat Kathy Hoffman on Sunday declared victory over Republican Frank Riggs in the superintendent of public instruction race.

The Democrat came into Sunday with a nearly 43,000 vote lead, a lead that grew by almost 4,000 votes following the latest tallies.

The race, however, has not officially been called.

This victory is not just about me or my campaign. It’s about the thousands of teachers and educators who lead our public schools every day.

We did this together. We did this because the future of Arizona starts in our public schools.

Words cannot express my gratitude. pic.twitter.com/6cOsI9g02l

— Kathy Hoffman for Superintendent (@kathyhoffman_az) November 12, 2018

Hoffman, a former teacher, was trailing by 8,000 at the end of election night with nearly 500,000 votes remaining. She took the lead by 20,000 after the Thursday count reveal, added another 10,000 vote advantage on Friday and added another 13,000 vote advantage on Saturday.

Arizona Democratic Party Chair Felecia Rotellini offered this statement congratulating Hoffman.

Congratulations to Kathy Hoffman on becoming Arizona’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Arizona’s students need a dedicated educator to turn our state’s public schools around and to hold Republican politicians accountable for providing our teachers with much needed and much deserved pay increases. Kathy is the embodiment of the #RedforEd movement, and she’ll direct that activist spirit into serving Arizona’s students

There are now approximately 162,00 votes remaining to be counted in Maricopa County and several thousands in other counties.

Secretary of state candidates Republican Steve Gaynor and Democrat Katie Hobbs saw their undeclared race tighten following Sunday’s tallies.

Hobbs overtook Gaynor for the first time and leads the Republican by 150 votes following Sunday.

Gaynor led by 10,000 votes as recently as Friday and by 3,120 votes after Saturday.

The state senate seat for District 28 between Republican Kate Brophy McGee and Democrat Christine Porter Marsh was also undeclared as of Sunday with McGee in the lead by a narrow margin of 617 votes.

Updated counts show that McGee now leads by 643 votes.

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Rep.-elect Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., celebrates his win at an election night gathering for Democrats Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Phoenix. Stanton defeated Republican Steve Ferrara in Arizona's 9th Congressional District. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R, speaks to supporters, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at an election night party in Scottsdale, Ariz. Incumbent Ducey defeated democratic challenger David Garcia for his second term. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R, embraces Cindy McCain, wife of the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, while speaking to supporters, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at an election night party in Scottsdale, Ariz. Incumbent Ducey defeated Democratic challenger David Garcia for his second term. (AP Photo/Matt York)

U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., holds his daughter Olivia as he speaks to supporters, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at an election night party in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

An elections official counts ballots at the Tabulation and Election Center, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Republican senatorial candidate Martha McSally, speaks with voters, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at Chase's diner in Chandler, Ariz. McSally and Democratic challenger Kirsten Sinema are seeking the senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who is retiring in January. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at a relocated polling station, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 in Chandler, Ariz. The new polling station opened four hours late after the original location did not open due to the buildings' foreclosure overnight. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

A volunteer moves supplies to a relocated polling station, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 in Chandler, Ariz. The new polling station opened four hours late after the original location did not open due to the buildings' foreclosure overnight. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

A notice sign is seen at a polling station, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 in Chandler, Ariz. A new polling station opened four hours late after the original location did not open due to the buildings' foreclosure overnight. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Marcicopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes holds an Election Day press conference, Nov. 6, 2018. (KTAR Photo/Ali Vetnar)

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R, arrives to cast his ballot early Tuesday, Nov 6, 2018 in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Ducey is seeking re-election against Democratic challenger David Garcia. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Garcia serves coffee at a local cafe, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Phoenix. Garcia is challenging Republican incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Voters head into Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix to cast their ballots on Nov. 6, 2018. (KTAR News Photo/Jim Cross)

Maricopa County elections official Deborah Atkins places a "vote" sign outside a polling station prior to it's opening, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Maricopa County elections official Deborah Atkins hangs "vote" signs outside a polling station prior to it's opening, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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