Katie Hobbs wins Democratic nomination for governor of Arizona

PHOENIX — Katie Hobbs will represent the Democratic Party in the general election for governor of Arizona.

Early results had Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state, at around 75% of the vote in the first release of Tuesday’s primary election.

“I want to thank the voters of Arizona for making me your Democratic nominee for governor and entrusting me with this immense responsibility,” Hobbs said at her watch party after the first results were released. “I will not let you down.

“The people threatening our democracy, our state and our personal freedoms aren’t just banging at my door, they’re banging at Arizona’s door. To take over our state and take away any sense of normalcy we have left.”

Opponent Marco Lopez, the former mayor of Nogales, conceded shortly after the results were released.

“Thank you, Arizona, for allowing me the incredible opportunity to share my message with you over the past several months, and to everyone across the state who helped us build an incredible and memorable campaign,” Lopez said in a tweet. “While we are disappointed by tonight’s results, our movement will live on in the campaigns of so many strong Democrats running this fall. We must do everything we can to get them elected or re-elected, because the stakes are simply too high.”

Hobbs will take on the winner of the Republican primary in the general election to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

Hobbs entered in the race in June 2021.

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

Prior to taking her current role in 2018, Hobbs served in both chambers of the Arizona Legislature.

If elected, Hobbs would be Arizona’s first Democratic governor since Janet Napolitano won a second term in 2006.

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