Katie Hobbs said she’ll remain Arizona’s secretary of state despite GOP calls for her to step down
Arizona’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Katie Hobbs, said she would not recuse herself from her current position as secretary of state despite assertions from Republican candidates that her role as the state’s top election official is a conflict of interest as she runs for higher office.
“I took an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Arizona. I have upheld that oath and I will continue to do so until I leave office on Jan. 2,” she told the Arizona Republic.
There is no legal requirement for Hobbs to step aside. A number of incumbent secretaries of state in Arizona have certified their own reelections.
"I don't see a problem with her being secretary of state and running for governor and recording the votes," former Republican Gov. Jan Brewer told the Arizona Republic about Hobbs. Brewer certified her own reelection as secretary of state in 2006. She became governor in 2009 when Democrat Janet Napolitano resigned to work in the Obama administration.
Hobbs’ race remains tight against her Republican opponent Kari Lake, a staunch proprietor of debunked allegations that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent. Lake told ABC News’ chief Washington correspondentJon Karl that she would accept the results of the election if they were “fair, honest and transparent.”






