Katie Hobbs Sworn In As Arizona Governor: Despite Republican opponent Kari Lake’s legal efforts to protest the election, Democrat Katie Hobbs was sworn in as governor of Arizona on Monday, securing her victory.
Following a statutory recount that confirmed their victories last week, Democrats Kris Mayes and Tom Horne were sworn in as the state’s attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, respectively.
Hobbs and other newly appointed top Arizona officials were sworn into office during a Monday morning ceremony in Phoenix’s Capitol Executive Tower. According to the governor’s office, Arizona’s Constitution mandates that statewide elected officials begin their terms on the first Monday in January, regardless of federal holidays.
“Today marks a new chapter for Arizona,” Hobbs said Monday. “As we look forward to a brighter future, I pledge that the needs of Arizonans — not partisan politics — will always come first. I will work with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to tackle our state’s biggest challenges — fully funding our public schools, to secure our state’s water future, ensuring reproductive freedom, making Arizona more affordable, and so much more.”
After Lake, with the support of former President Donald Trump, filed a lawsuit contesting the fairness of the governor’s race, an Arizona judge last week ruled that Lake should be required to pay Hobbs’ legal bills in part but not entirely. In Lake’s case, which was filed in Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters, the focus was on issues with faulty ballot printers at several polling stations. However, the same judge dismissed Lake’s complaint for lack of solid evidence.
Lake, who fell short by almost 17,000 votes, hasn’t given up yet. She has hinted that she plans to appeal.
On December 5, Arizona election officials confirmed the governorship’s outcome.
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