Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is up for reelection next year, garnered backlash Tuesday after vetoing a bill aimed at preventing China from buying up land next to strategic assets, such as military bases.

Arizona state Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp said the “politically motivated veto” was “utterly insane,” blaming Hobbs for being “an obstructionist against safeguarding our citizens from threats.” 

However, Hobbs said the bill, S.B. 1109, was “ineffective at counter-espionage” and did not “directly protect” American military assets in the state.

TEXAS PUSHES BACK AGAINST FOREIGN LAND GRAB WITH ‘STRONGEST BILL IN THE NATION’ AGAINST CHINA, IRAN, RUSSIA

Chinese investment in land near military bases has become an increasing concern for national security hawks. Shamp, in her efforts to get the now-vetoed bill passed, cited recent Chinese attempts to lease buildings alongside Arizona’s Luke Air Force Base, where the military trains fighter pilots.

“Governor Hobbs’s veto of SB 1109 hangs an ‘Open for the CCP’ sign on Arizona’s front door, allowing Communist China to buy up American land near critical assets like Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde nuclear power plant, and Taiwan Semiconductor’s growing fabrication footprint,” said Michael Lucci, the CEO and founder of State Armor Action, a conservative group with a mission to develop and enact state-level solutions to global security threats.   

“Allowing Communist China to buy up land near our critical assets is a national security risk, plain and simple, and Governor Hobbs is substantively and completely wrong when she says that SB 1109 ‘is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets,’” Lucci added.

Lucci pointed to Ukraine’s recent drone attacks that destroyed significant numbers of Russian military aircraft, noting that “proximity produces peril in asymmetric warfare.”

AFTER UKRAINE’S SURPRISE DRONE ASSAULT ON RUSSIA, NEW ATTENTION DRAWN TO SENSITIVE SITES STATESIDE

Chinese land grabs in the United States have been an ongoing concern for lawmakers. Currently, Congress is considering multiple bills related to the matter, while almost two dozen states have already passed legislation to implement changes around foreign land purchases in their states. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

S.B. 1109, which can still pass if the Arizona legislature overrides Hobbs’ veto, would have prohibited the People’s Republic of China from having a 30%, or more, stake in Arizona property.

Hobbs, in her defense of the veto, added that in addition to being ineffective at countering Chinese espionage efforts, the bill lacked “clear implementation criteria,” which opened the door for “arbitrary enforcement.”

However, the bill went through a bipartisan amendment process in an effort to assuage those concerns that the legislation might lead to discrimination in land sales, according to local outlet the AZ Mirror. The initial version of the bill banned certain people and entities deemed to be national security threats from buying up land in Arizona, but following subsequent amendments the bill only sought to ban Chinese government-linked entities and its subsidiaries.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said that not only was the bill an “ineffective” way to try to counter Chinese espionage efforts, but it also lacked “clear implementation criteria” which Hobbs complained could open the door to “arbitrary enforcement.” (GETTY IMAGES)

In addition to Arizona, other states have proposed or passed legislation aimed at curtailing Chinese land grabs in the United States. Congress has also taken steps in an effort to effectuate change through national policy.

As of March 17, according to the China-focused nonprofit Committee of 100, 27 states are currently considering 84 bills aimed at restricting foreign property ownership in some way, while Congress is currently considering seven separate bills addressing the issue. So far, the committee indicated, 22 states have passed bills restricting foreign property ownership, 17 of which were passed into law in 2024.

Rising Democratic Party star Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who sparked controversy earlier this year with remarks about Elon Musk and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, formally launched her bid for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee Tuesday.

“These are not normal times — and this cannot be a business-as-usual moment,” Crockett said in a post on X. 

The House Oversight Committee is responsible for holding the executive branch of the federal government and President Donald Trump accountable in Congress. The committee’s last ranking member, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., died May 21 after battling cancer. He was elected to the position in 2023.

“Since the start of the 119th Congress, the late ranking member, Gerry Connolly, led Oversight Democrats in the fight to hold the Trump Administration accountable and it was my distinct privilege and absolute honor to serve alongside him as the Vice Ranking Member,” Crockett said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues. 

JASMINE CROCKETT AGREES DURING TOWN HALL THAT ‘REPUBLICANS WANT POOR PEOPLE TO DIE’

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday a special election to replace Connolly in the House. His death May 21 also left a leadership gap on the House Oversight Committee, and House Democrats are now tasked with electing a new leader to challenge Trump. 

Connolly designated Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., as interim ranking member, and the race is on among House Democrats for the open leadership position. Democratic representatives Robert Garcia of California and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland have announced their own bids to lead the committee. 

Crockett had signaled her intention to run for ranking member, and the Texas congresswoman’s letter to Democrats Tuesday made her bid official. 

JASMINE CROCKETT SHARES BIZARRE SONG CLIP CALLING HERSELF ‘LEADER OF THE FUTURE’

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks during a hearing with the Subcommittee on Delivering On Government Efficiency in the U.S. Capitol Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“In this moment, Americans are demanding a more strategic, aggressive, and energetic fight,” Crockett said. 

“Understanding that fierce urgency, I formally announce my candidacy for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — with a focus on standing up for American families, defending the Constitution and the rule of law, and ensuring the government serves the people, not the privileged few.”

Crockett has risen to the national stage for her viral moments in the House, building name recognition among Democrats and a reputation among Republicans. 

Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Crockett of “threatening lives” and said she should apologize for her rhetoric against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for saying, “All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down.” 

Crockett said she was referring to “nonviolent” resistance. 

Crockett was also criticized this year for calling Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, who is in a wheelchair, “Governor Hot Wheels.” She walked back the comments after her remarks went viral, calling the outrage a “distraction.” 

And the Texas congresswoman dominated headlines last year when her campaign trademarked the phrase “bleach blonde, bad built, butch body” after a verbal dispute with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. 

Her viral moments have even caught the attention of Trump, who called Crockett a “low I.Q. person.”

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One at Miami International Airport April 3, 2025, in Miami.  (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

“Our country is in an existential crisis driven by an out-of-control Executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic,” Crockett said in her letter to House Democrats. “The Administration has refused to respect congressional authority, abide by lawful judicial orders, or respond to public outrage.”

“The magnitude of these unprecedented times warrants a resistance and tactics never before seen. We must pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0 and translate our findings to the American people in a way they can digest,” Crockett added. 

In the letter, Crockett praised President Joe Biden, touted her own achievements during her first two terms in the House and asked for her colleagues’ support. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., another rising Democratic Party star, said earlier this year she would not seek the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee. 

“It’s actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe I’ll be staying put at Energy and Commerce,” Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement first reported by NBC. 

Ocasio-Cortez lost her House Oversight bid to Connolly late last year. Connolly had announced his plan to step back as ranking member of the Oversight Committee after just four months on the job due to the resurgence of his esophageal cancer. 

It’s been nearly a month since Daniel Comeaux was sworn in as the new chief of police in Dallas, where he is taking a different approach to immigration enforcement than his predecessor and working to align with the state’s sanctuary policies. 

“We’re gonna do what’s right. We’re always gonna be there to help our federal partners,” Comeaux told Fox News Digital during an interview. 

“If there’s a federal agency that’s doing an operation, and they need our assistance, we’ll be there to help them, as long as they’re doing what’s by the law, and they’re doing it with respect and the right way, DPD will be there to assist,” he continued.

Comeaux also has the support of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who said during a previous interview with Fox News that he would support efforts by President Donald Trump to deport undocumented migrants accused of violent crimes.

BUCKING BIG-CITY TREND: MAJOR TEXAS CITIES NOW ALERTING ICE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ENCOUNTERS

“Of course, we’d support that,” Johnson said during the interview. “Of course, we’d stand by President Trump in an effort to get rid of people in our country illegally who have violent criminal records or who commit violent criminal acts here.”

Texas has taken a hard stance against illegal immigration, particularly during the Biden administration. The state deployed authorities to its border with Mexico and took on a campaign of bussing migrants to Democrat-run cities to bring attention to the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. 

Johnson, who has served as Dallas’ mayor since 2019, made headlines in 2023 when he announced he was switching from the Democrat party to the Republican, explaining his decision in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, “American cities need Republicans.” 

Dallas, one of the top 10 largest cities in the U.S., saw a significant decrease in crime after Johnson took office in 2019.

According to The Associated Press, Dallas is the largest city in the U.S. to be led by a GOP mayor. 

Johnson told Fox News Digital in 2021 he attributed that success to three things — a strong police chief, having “a budget that reflects public safety being your city’s top priority” and ensuring there’s “community buy-in” for crime reduction. 

“Mayor Johnson has made public safety his top priority in Dallas, and the city has now achieved a remarkable four-consecutive years of violent crime reduction,” a spokesperson for Mayor Johnson told Fox News Digital.

“The mayor supports President Trump’s agenda for making America safe again and believes cooperating with federal law enforcement to stop violent criminals — particularly illegal immigrants who have no right to be in our city or in our country — helps keep Dallas safe.”

While Johnson made his position clear on immigration enforcement, his stance differed from former DPD Interim Chief Michael Igo, who previously said his department would not turn in or report anyone in the country illegally who calls 911 for help.

“The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas,” Igo previously said to attendees at Familia Bethel Internacional church in Dallas, according to CBS News.

Igo also told the parishioners that federal immigration officials said no arrests or raids would be carried out in churches, schools or hospitals, although he did say that illegal immigrants with outstanding warrants were at risk of deportation. 

Comeaux, who also has a different take on the issues than his predecessor, said while he wouldn’t necessarily call it aligning with President Donald Trump’s agenda, he said his department would “do what’s right by law enforcement.” 

“If we come in contact with anyone that doesn’t have status, we will call the proper federal agency and let them handle it,” Comeaux said. “We’re not initiating any investigations. We’re not initiating any programs. So everyone should feel free to go with their business as normal.”

Comeaux reiterated that if any of their federal partners needed assistance in any way, they would be there to assist. 

DALLAS POLICE WON’T JOIN ICE DEPORTATION RAIDS, INTERIM CHIEF TELLS IMMIGRANT MEETINGS

DEA’s Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux displays photos of a pill made by a drug cartel, left, and one made by a pharmaceutical manufacturer during a press conference at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston in April 2023.  (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Comeaux, who has been on the federal side of law enforcement for the past few decades, most recently served as the special agent in charge of the DEA field office in Houston.

He said one of his biggest focuses is working to get felons off the streets.

“Anyone that has a felony warrant, at any moment, know that we could be the ones knocking at your door. It might not be the mailman knocking at your door, it might be us. So if you have a felony warrant, we are trying to get you off the streets,” Comeaux warned.

“We’ll get you to the necessary court that you need to be in. But we’re very aggressive in getting anyone off the street that has felony warrants. We’ll keep everybody safe here in Dallas,” he continued.

MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR ANNOUNCES CITY WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH TRUMP’S DEPORTATION POLICY

DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux poses for a photograph at his office in San Francisco.  (Nick Otto for the Washington Post)

Comeaux added that another feature the city has in place to protect the public is a camera system. 

“One great thing about Dallas is we have so many camera systems in place. We see what’s happening across the city and everyone needs to understand that and know that if you’re in this area, if you commit crimes in Dallas, it’s very likely that we’re seeing you, we’re watching you, and we’re coming to get you,” he vowed. 

Comeaux also issued a warning to anyone looking to bring violence to the city or break the law to think again.

“Not in this city. I’ve been a crime fighter, I’ve been a protector for my entire career, ever since I was 21 years old,” he said. “Pick another city. Don’t come to Dallas, you’re not welcome.” 

When asked what motivated Comeaux to leave the DEA’s office and get back into policing, he reflected on an incident when he started his career as a Houston police officer at 21.

“I’ll never forget those moments when I was working the streets, and I was able to really make a difference. I was unable to help an elderly person one day and that has really stuck with me for my entire law enforcement career,” the chief shared. “And I always knew I wanted to circle back to local law enforcement and I wanted it to be in a city that can really be influential throughout the entire United States and Dallas was one of those.”

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan, Louis Casiano and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.