Arizona Superintendent Kathy Hoffman announces bid for reelection

PHOENIX — Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced Monday that she will run for reelection in 2022.

“Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, I am dedicated to keep fighting for our educators and students,” Hoffman said in a statement.

“This is why I have decided to run for reelection and continue building an Arizona where every student has a high quality education.”

I am honored to serve as Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction & our state’s top public education advocate. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, I am dedicated to keep fighting for our educators & students. This is why I have decided to run for re-election.

— Kathy Hoffman (@kathyhoffman_az) April 26, 2021

The public schools chief also announced that she will be running as a Clean Elections candidate, meaning Hoffman’s campaign cannot accept donations from PACs, lobbyists or corporations.

“Running clean is a personal value of mine — but it is also a necessary step in ensuring our elected officials are accountable to the community they wish to serve,” Hoffman’s statement read.

Hoffman, a former teacher, was elected to the role in 2018 after defeating Republican Frank Riggs. She was the first Democrat to hold the job since 1995.

During her tenure, Hoffman has been vocal about adhering to COVID-19 protocols as Arizona’s schools navigate remote learning and the return to in-person learning amid the pandemic.

On Wednesday, she criticized Gov. Doug Ducey for not consulting with anyone in the education field before rescinding the requirement of masks in schools.

“We only have about one month remaining of the school year and what we want more than anything is a strong finish to the school year, we want to have stability and we are focusing on the wrong things right now,” Hoffman told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad.

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