Democrat · Arizona governor · 2026
Katie Hobbs
Hobbs worked with homeless young people and survivors of domestic violence before she started writing laws.
Biography
Katie Hobbs grew up in Tempe in a household that sometimes relied on food stamps and support from its church.1 Her first job was at a Burger King in Tempe; later, she waited tables at Pizza Hut in Flagstaff to help pay for college.1 She met her husband at church in 1992.2 They now live in Phoenix with their dog, Harley, and have two adult children.1
Hobbs earned social work degrees at Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University, then worked with people facing homelessness, domestic violence and behavioral health problems.2 Her work included serving as chief compliance officer at Sojourner Center, a domestic violence shelter.3 She entered the Arizona House after the 2010 election and later became the state Senate's Democratic minority leader.3
She served as secretary of state from 2019 through 2022 and became governor in January 2023.24 In 2024, she signed the repeal of Arizona's 1864 abortion ban.5 Her administration also implemented the end of municipal taxes on long residential rentals, effective January 2025 under legislation passed in 2023.6
Her reelection campaign emphasizes housing affordability, childcare, water security, public education and protecting access to reproductive healthcare.1 She faces Republican Andy Biggs, whose proposals include eliminating the state income tax and expanding access to private school scholarships.7 The contest will decide whether she gets a second term to continue that agenda.8
Record and controversies
Adams lawsuit verdicts against Senate
Talonya Adams won discrimination and retaliation claims against the Arizona Senate after her 2015 firing, in which Hobbs participated as minority leader.9 Hobbs disputed that race or sex motivated the decision, while saying the Senate should not appeal Adams' second trial victory.9 The court expressly identified the Senate as the sole defendant, so these civil verdicts are not a personal criminal conviction of Hobbs.10
Sunshine Residential inquiry closed without charges
On August 21, 2026, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes declined prosecution after investigators found no evidence of the necessary exchange to support bribery charges concerning Sunshine Residential Homes' donations and state rate increases.11 Independent reporting described evidence that Hobbs neither advocated for the rate increase nor knew about it before approval; she denied involvement.12 Mayes also called for stronger disclosure laws, distinguishing her charging decision from broader policy concerns.11 Separate legislative and audit inquiries were reported, and September coverage described the Senate's appointment of outside counsel; those proceedings are distinct from the attorney general's completed case.13