PHOENIX (AP) — Katie Hobbs takes the oath of workplace Monday to turn into Arizona’s twenty fourth governor and the primary Democrat to carry the workplace since 2009.
Energy will switch in a personal ceremony on the state Capitol as Hobbs formally takes over from Republican Doug Ducey. A public inauguration for Hobbs and others taking statewide places of work is scheduled for Thursday.
Hobbs is the outgoing secretary of state and was beforehand a state legislator who rose to be the highest Democrat within the Senate. As governor, she’ll need to work with a Home and Senate narrowly managed by Republicans. The brand new Legislature convenes for the primary time subsequent week.
Hobbs assumes management of a state with a powerful financial system and a stable monetary place, with a big funds surplus forecast for the following fiscal yr.
However there are headwinds on the horizon. Phoenix has a few of the nation’s highest inflation ranges and housing prices have soared as fast inhabitants progress has outpaced dwelling development, belying the state’s repute for affordability. And the water provide is constrained by drought.
Hobbs narrowly defeated Republican Kari Lake, a former tv anchor who was backed by former President Donald Trump. She excited conservatives together with her staunch backing of Trump, together with his lies concerning the 2020 election, and her sturdy criticism of masks mandates and enterprise closures as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. However she struggled to attach with Arizona’s common voters, which has repeatedly eschewed Republicans intently aligned with Trump going again to the 2018 midterms.
Hobbs would be the fifth lady to be Arizona governor. The final Democratic governor was Janet Napolitano, who resigned in January 2009 to be U.S. Homeland Safety secretary underneath President Barack Obama. She was changed by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer.
The Arizona Structure says state officers take their place on the primary Monday in January. Whereas Hobbs will take workplace on schedule, the general public ceremony was delayed as a result of Monday is the noticed New Yr vacation.
Additionally formally taking workplace Monday are Democrats Adrian Fontes as secretary of state and Kris Mayes as legal professional common, each of whom defeated Trump-backed Republicans who refused to concede and unsuccessfully challenged their losses in court docket. Mayes’s 280-vote victory was among the many closest statewide races in Arizona historical past.
Kimberly Yee will likely be sworn in for her second time period as state treasurer and Tom Horne as superintendent of public instruction, a job he stuffed for 2 phrases starting in 2003. Yee and Horne are each Republicans.