Phoenix (AP) — Democratic Katie Hobbes Elected Governor of Arizona On Monday, she defeated a supporter of Donald Trump who falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged and refused to say she would accept her election results this year.
Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state, has made a name for himself as an advocate of legitimacy in the last election, and has been criticized by Republican rivals and former TV news anchors. Kali Lake, becomes an agent of chaos. Hobbes’ victory adds further evidence that Trump is squeezing allies in key battleground states as the former president gears up to announce his 2024 presidential election.
She will replace Republican Governor Doug Ducey, who was barred from running again due to term limits. She is the first Democrat to be elected governor in Arizona since Janet Napolitano in 2006.
“For those of you in Arizona who didn’t vote for me, I’ll work hard for you because I believe that even in this moment of division, there’s so much more that unites us.” “This wasn’t just an election, it was about moving this state forward and meeting the challenges of our generation,” Hobbes said in a statement declaring victory.
Lake tweeted after the call, “Arizonans know when they see BS.”
The Associated Press called the governor’s race Hobbs said after the latest poll results were announced, after gaining such a large lead that AP decided she wouldn’t relinquish it. Despite posting, she didn’t get a big enough share to overtake Hobbes, and concluded that she was using up the remaining votes.
The counting of votes went on for days Since Tuesday’s election, officials have continued to tally large numbers of late-arriving ballots.
Arizona, a former Republican stronghold where the Democrats triumphed during the Trump era, has been accused of trying to cast doubt on Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory with false claims of fraud. Although Trump won the Nevada gubernatorial race this year, elections in battleground states have swayed many pro-Trump candidates. Republican Joe Lombardodefeated incumbent Democrats.
Before entering politics, Hobbes was a social worker serving homeless youth and an executive at a large domestic violence shelter in the Phoenix area. She was elected to the state legislature in 2010, serving one term in the House and three terms in the Senate, working her way up to minority leader.
Hobbes In 2018, he won a small victory as secretary of state. Arizona has been pushed into the center of a political storm as it became the center of efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election. She defends voter integrity I was constantly on cable news.
The attention she received helped her raise millions of dollars and raise her profile. When she announced her gubernatorial run, other prominent Democrats declined to run, and Hobbes won the primary easily.
She campaigned cautiously, sticking to mostly scripted and choreographed public appearances. She refused to participate in a debate with Lake, claiming that Lake would turn it into a spectacle by spouting conspiracy theories and making false accusations.
Instead, voters were bickering with journalists while the cameras rolled, and using a combative tone even against Democrats and established Republicans who had long controlled state governments, Lake said. I bet it would rebound.
Though the pre-election polls were tied, Hobbes’ victory still came as a surprise to many Democrats who feared her cowardice would alienate voters. We met expectations in the Metro Phoenix and Tucson areas, where the overwhelming majority of Arizona voters live. She also spent a significant amount of time in rural areas to minimize losses in areas traditionally pro-Republican.
Lake is well known in many parts of the state, having broadcast the evening news in Phoenix for over 20 years. She won Trump’s praise for her unwavering commitment to questioning the results of the 2020 election. I got
She unfoundedly accused election officials of delaying the counting of votes this year and prioritizing Democratic votes.
Quoted by Lake printer problem Nearly one-third of vote centers in Maricopa County resulted in field counters rejecting some ballots. Election officials told voters to put their ballots in separate boxes and count them later, but Republican leaders told supporters to ignore the instructions, and lines in some places fell back. .
The issue affected about 7% of ballots cast in person on Election Day and about 1% of all ballots in the county.
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said he has stepped up security around the election center in anticipation of Monday’s election and potential emotions, but no specific threat. He said demonstrators had gathered outside the building for several days but remained peaceful.
“I think we’re getting close to the final race, so I want to make sure we’re ready,” Penzone told reporters at a press conference hours before the race call.
The sheriff’s office was caught off guard two years ago when armed and angry protesters were caught off guard. went down to the election building In downtown Phoenix after Fox News and AP Called Biden’s ArizonaThis marks the first state victory for the Democrats in over 20 years.
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