Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has again refused to participate in a debate, announcing she will sit out the 2024 cycle just as she did in 2022.
According to The Gateway Pundit, Hobbs, who previously ducked both her primary and general election debates before narrowly defeating Trump-endorsed Kari Lake, is once more rejecting Arizonas long-standing tradition of open, televised candidate forums. Her campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, told 12 News, We respectfully decline debate invitations in this campaign because face-to-face engagement with Arizonans is more effective than a stage designed for short soundbites and political theater. DeMont further argued that Hobbs has held more than 100 open-press events, suggesting this volume of appearances excuses her from defending her record in a structured debate.
The governors team used similar rhetoric in 2022, when Hobbs refused to share a stage with Lake and instead attacked her opponents character. Debating a conspiracy theorist like Kari Lake whose entire campaign platform is to cause enormous chaos and make Arizona the subject of national ridicule would only lead to constant interruptions, pointless distractions, and childish name-calling, the Hobbs campaign said last year. Arizonans deserve so much better than Kari Lake, and thats why were confident Katie Hobbs will be elected our next governor.
Critics argue Hobbs aversion to debates coincides with mounting ethical questions surrounding her administration. As The Gateway Pundit reported, Hobbs is under investigation over large donations funneled to the Democratic Party and a dark money group for her inaugural events, including $400,000 from a company that later secured contracts worth millions.
Drew Sexton, a senior adviser to Rep. Andy Biggs, condemned Hobbs latest refusal while confirming that Biggs will appear at the scheduled Clean Elections Debate. The independent and persuadable voters up for grabs in Arizona deserve to hear from statewide candidates in a traditional debate setting, one that was held in every Arizona gubernatorial race since 1954 until Katie Hobbs ran for the position in 2022, Sexton wrote, noting that Every other statewide Democrat in 2022 and 2024 decided to debate in the general election, but Katie Hobbs thinks the rules dont apply to her.
Sexton tied Hobbs debate dodge to the ongoing corruption probe and political setbacks within her own party. He added, That may be why shes also under criminal investigation for corruption and why shes already been publicly rejected by her first choice for Lt. Governor.
Reaffirming that Republicans will not follow Hobbs lead, Sexton stressed that Biggs will continue to make his case directly to voters. Whatever her reason is, it wont stop Andy Biggs from campaigning across the state and participating in the Clean Elections Debate on October 6th to ask for the votes of every Arizonan of every background, he said, warning, Katie Hobbs can avoid the debate stage but she wont get to avoid voters in November.
Hobbs reluctance to debate comes as she faces criticism for trying to claim credit for a conservative tax victory modeled on President Donald Trumps agenda.
Here in Arizona, we eliminated taxes on tips so that service workers like the guys here at Chili Pepper in Yuma can keep every dollar they earn through tips. As families struggle with high costs because of Washingtons misguided policies, Im working to put more money in Arizonans pockets, and we did just that with my fourth bipartisan balanced budget that cut taxes for hardworking families, Hobbs claimed in a recent video, omitting that the Republican-controlled Legislature advanced the no-tax-on-tips provision for 2026 to mirror Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, while she now refuses to defend her record in a head-to-head debate.
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