Katie Hobbs took an oath as the Governor of Arizona on January 2, 2023. The state has been consistently under the governance of Republican governors since 2009. As an elected democratic candidate, Hobbs surpassed the Republican dominance of 14 years.
The 24th Governor of Arizona defeated Republican nominee Kari Lake, taking over the position from term-limited Republican Governor Doug Ducey.
Hobbs’s political stance lies on a different spectrum as only the fifth female Governor to be selected in the state. The first order of her business included–
- Prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, hair texture, and protective styles.
- Issuing an independent prison oversight commission.
- Re-commissioning the homelessness and housing clause that was abolished in 2020.
- Commissioning a bipartisan elections task force.
- Forming a task force on missing and murdered indigenous women.
Besides her executive decisions, Hobbs also had to navigate the growing tensions in Arizona politics. As per Pew Research Center, 39% of adults in Arizona subscribe to conservative political ideology. It is safe to say that a Democratic representative will have to face some resistance.
On September 25, the Arizona Senate issued RICO indictments against Katie Hobbs on the charges of bribery, racketeering, money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, aiding and abetting the Sinaloa Cartel, and election fraud. (None of them have been proven yet).
Now that the context is clear, let’s dive into the events that transpired in misinformation.
On September 28, Katie Hobbs was reported to have mysteriously stepped down as the Governor of Arizona. Republican State Treasurer Kimberly Yee assumed the position of acting Governor for 24 hours. However, Hobbs’s spokesperson confirmed that these reports were false and that Hoobs went to a meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in D.C. She resumed her duties a day later.
What Happened to Katie Hobbs?
Fox News reported that Katie Hobbs has suddenly withdrawn from her Governor’s responsibilities, citing an abrupt leave of absence on September 28, 2023. On the same day, State Treasurer Kimberly Yee announced she would be the acting Governor, taking over Hobb’s duties.
Some media reports ran with the story that Katie Hobbs has resigned from the Governor’s office. Other speculations suggested that Hobbs was under investigation, compelling her to step down as the Governor of Arizona.
Republican Kimberley Yee, as the acting Governor, added fuel to the rumors about the growing tensions between the Democratic Governor and the state. However, the spun narrative was proven to be false.
Why Did Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Resign?
Governor Katie Hobbs’s spokesperson, Christian Slater, clarified the false claims Hobbs has resigned from her position. He issued a statement that Hobbs was visiting the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary in D.C. for essential discussions.
Meanwhile, the Republican acting Governor made remarks that she would “refrain from” assigning state agency director jobs that the Governor hasn’t filled. This jab propagated the rumors that the Governor had resigned.
However, it was pretty evident how the media failed to verify basic information and reported based on speculations.
Hobbs resumed her duties on Thursday morning and then attended the Tempe Center for the Arts, where the construction of a library honoring the late U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona was announced.
Hobbs was still marred by the rumors as social media added another speck that she would have to be sworn back if she wanted to resume her duties. However, Slater set teh record straight, stating–
“No, there is no grain of truth to that claim.”
Meanwhile, Hobbs remains unbothered by these rumors as she headed to Flagstaff to speak with the state Board of Regents on Friday, September 29.
In the latest update, Hobbs announced an important update on Fondomonte’s Butler Valley leases earlier in the morning of October 3, 2023.
What are your thoughts on the blatant propagation of misinformation against the Governor? Do you think there is internal politics at play?
Do you believe that the media should be reprimanded for false claims? Let us know in the comments section below.
