Democrat Katie Hobbs Beats Kari Lake in Arizona Governor Race

Democrat Katie Hobbs was elected governor of Arizona, the latest presidential battleground to reject a prominent election-denier candidate.

Hobbs, 52, defeated Republican Kari Lake, who embraced former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, in a narrow victory, according to the Associated Press. The race was called with about 98% of the ballots counted and Hobbs leading Lake by 20,777 votes.

Voters in the midterm election resoundingly rejected election deniers for positions that would oversee the 2024 presidential race in the crucial battlegrounds of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin. And in Georgia, they re-elected Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who stood up to Trump’s demands to overturn his 2020 loss in the state.

Hobbs, who as secretary of state garnered national attention in 2020 for defending Arizona’s voting procedures after President Joe Biden’s narrow victory, had refused to debate Lake. She called the Republican candidate “seriously dangerous” to the health and safety of Arizona residents, and highlighted her restrictive views on abortion.

“Democracy is worth the wait,” Hobbs said in a tweet on Monday. “Thank you Arizona. I am so honored and so proud to be your next Governor.”

A spokeswoman for Lake did not immediately respond to an inquiry asking if she would concede Monday evening.

Arizona was at the center of Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 loss, and it’s been a hotbed of election denial ever since, ranging from a controversial recount by the private firm CyberNinjas in Maricopa County to the 270 bills filed in the state legislature to change election rules over the past two years.

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[mindycao]

This is why Hobbs didn’t want to debate. She knows that it’s in the bag, rigged.

[RGAMBLER]

ALL AMERICANS SHOULD SUPPORT FREE & FAIR *SELECTIONS!!!* 🤡🇺🇸💅

[tiredone]

Hobbs gets away with shenanigans and elects herself governor, what a shame. Elections here are useless.

[TheNoonified]

Well when Arizona descends into further chaos, we'll thank the Democrats regardless.

[marzipan]

The news asked Kari Lake one time if Hobbs won would you accept... Well, I wonder what the people would say: my reply: Nope! I don't accept. Kari Lake is our true Arizona Governor.

[somedude]

Maricopa Board of Elections Beats Kari Lake in Arizona Governors Race. There - fixed it for you!

[SpookyGroovyPolitoCatMum]

20k votes is too small a margin

When one candidate won't debate. When a candidate won't come out of the basement. When the candidate doesn't speak to people. When the candidate won't discuss their plan

[georgehathcoat]

Not really ?? How many votes got misplaced this week ???

[cincat]

Defeating or defrauding? Arizona may have the quickest recall of a governor in history.

[Saltcracker]

There’s still over 100, 000 votes to be counted

[BillyBob-jbyy]

We’ll I guess Arizona is doomed think I didn’t move there

[competitivecombatsports]

“Democrat Katie Hobbs cheats Kari Lake In Arizona Governor race”.., ,

[benniecleveland]

Good for the Republicans party.goodbye and good ridden

[ronsws]

All Lake had to do was pretend to be a decent person and she would have won, but she didn't. She glammed it up with Captain Cheetoh and acted like a jerk.. People voted against Lake, not for Hobbs.

[lalva]

Like they say, “It wasn’t rigged, you’re just LOSER”

[janehandpants]

No way did all those republicans vote for Hobbs

[fatbastard]

How do you get someone who's scared to debate win an election? Answer: MAIL IN VOTING