IN FOCUS - Oct. 18, 2024

America’s 42nd and 44th Presidents are the latest to barnstorm Arizona this week in the battle for our state’s 11 electoral votes.

Other key numbers are 31 and 16 - the number of seats needed for a legislative majority. It’s clear that’s where Governor Katie Hobbs is spending her political capital in the waning days of the 2024 campaign.

Reclaiming the Legislature from Republican control has been a priority for Governor Hobbs since taking office. Divided government over the past two years has stymied her Cabinet appointments and hindered Democratic policy priorities.

With so many seats up for grabs in suburban Phoenix and the East Valley, Democrats need to flip only one in each chamber to break GOP control. That’s where an effort led by Governor Hobbs is spending big and focusing its attention.

By comparison, the state’s paper of record today highlighted that Governor Hobbs has devoted far less energy to supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid to win swing state Arizona. Hobbs has been, let’s say, noticeably absent from each of the Vice President’s recent campaign visits - including stops in Scottsdale and the East Valley this month, a trek to the border community of Douglas in late September, and the Glendale mega rally in August.

Nicole DeMont, the Governor’s political strategist, chalked up the absences to “different priorities,” telling The Republic that Hobbs is focusing her time, energy and money on boosting Democratic legislative candidates. But, liberal columnist E.J. Montini wasn’t having it, with a column headlined: “Not Buying Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Lame Excuse for Avoiding Kamala Harris.”

Governor Hobbs might get another chance, though. There are still 18 days until the election … plenty of time for another Harris visit to Arizona.