Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs announces 2022 run for governor

PHOENIX – Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, announced Wednesday morning that she is running for governor in 2022.

Hobbs made the announcement in a video that touts her record as the state’s top elections official.

I’m running for Governor to deliver transparency, accountability, and results for Arizonans — just like I’ve done my whole career.

Join me: https://t.co/LM2sCDVynA pic.twitter.com/5y3QtFvYAk

— Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) June 2, 2021

She’s been a high-profile defender of Arizona’s voting process in recent months, appearing regularly on local and national media outlets to criticize the ongoing audit of Maricopa County’s 2020 general election, which was ordered by the state Senate’s GOP leadership.

“Right now, our state government is being run by conspiracy theorists who are more focused on political posturing than getting things done, and that needs to change,” Hobbs said in a press release.

“As governor, I will do what I have always done: put aside our differences and work to solve the serious problems facing Arizona.”

Hobbs served in both chambers of the Arizona Legislature before successfully running for secretary of state in 2018.

She joins former Nogales Mayor Marco Lopez in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and becomes the likely party front-runner.

“She’s secretary of state and a proven and likable person and has great Democratic credentials,” Valley political analyst Stan Barnes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News after Wednesday’s news broke.

State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, Karrin Taylor Robson of the Arizona Board of Regents and former news anchor Kari Lake headline the field of declared Republicans.

The candidates are seeking to replace Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who can’t run in 2022 because of term limits.

Arizona hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since Janet Napolitano won a second term in 2006.

CORRECTION: The headline in earlier versions of this story erroneously said 2020 instead of 2022.

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