Ducey’s Out in 2022. Here’s Who Wants to Replace Him as Governor.

Ducey

Anya Magnuson/Cronkite News.

By Bree Burkitt

May 27, 2021

A slew of candidates have announced their intent to run in recent weeks, with others expected to follow suit.

The race for Arizona’s governor is heating up.

Incumbent Republican Governor Doug Ducey is not eligible to run again in 2022 due to term limits. 

A slew of candidates have announced their intent to run in recent weeks, with others expected to follow suit.

Here’s who we know is running for governor so far: 

Katie Hobbs

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs announced her run for governor Wednesday.

“I am running for Governor to deliver transparency, accountability, and results for Arizonans, just like I have done my whole career,” Hobbs said in a news release on Wednesday.

“Right now, our state government is being run by conspiracy theorists who are more focused on political posturing than getting things done, and that needs to change. As Governor, I will do what I have always done: put aside our differences and work to solve the serious problems facing Arizona.”

The Democrat has been a relentless defender of the 2020 election, frequently appearing on local and national news media to repeatedly explain the integrity of the election and the repeated state-run audits. She’s been a vocal critic of the ongoing Arizona State Senate’s audit.

“When you’re under attack, some would have you believe you have two choices: two fight or give in. But there’s a third option: get the job done. I’m here to solve problems,” she said in her announcement video.

Kari Lake

Former FOX 10 news anchor is running for governor.

Kari Lake spent more than two decades as an anchor the station, but she departed from TV news in early 2021. Many of her outspoken conservative takes gained attention during the last years of her TV career, including her support for President Donald Trump and allegations of issues within the media industry.

Lake formally announced her campaign Tuesday.

Marco López

Former Nogales Mayor Marco López was the first to declare his candidacy. The Democrat first came to prominence in 2001 when he was elected to be mayor of Nogales at 22, making him one of the youngest people to serve as a mayor in the US.

He later worked under Gov. Janet Napolitano as executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. The former governor appointed López as her chief of staff of US Customs and Border Protection when President Barack Obama tapped Napolitano for homeland security secretary. United States history

He’s since moved into the international business advisory realm. 

In his announcement video—released in both English and Spanish—López touted his Arizona roots. He explained that he decided to run because he felt that the Arizona promise that “anything is possible, no matter who you are or where you come from” is no longer true. 

Karrin Taylor Robson

Arizona Regent Karrin Taylor Robson threw her hat into the ring Monday just hours after Yee. 

Robson, who described herself as a “lifelong conservative Republican,” is the founder and president of the land use strategy company, Arizona Strategies. Ducey appointed her to the Arizona Board of Regents in 2017.

Robson, a member of the board that governs Arizona’s public universities, touted her opposition to President Joe Biden’s administration in a campaign announcement video.

“In just a few months we’ve seen the direction Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want to take this country, and as Arizonans we need to fight back,” she said.

“We’re going to fight for Arizona values, and I’m going to spend the next few months visiting your community and hearing from you about how we can stand together and fight the radical Biden-Harris agenda.”

Kimberly Yee

Arizona’s State Treasurer Kimberly Yee announced she’s running for governor earlier this week.

Yee, A Republican, is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump and said in her announcement that she wanted to “stop the attacks on our state by the socialist agenda.”

“I’m running for Governor to put Arizona first, to ensure our children have the same opportunities and freedoms my family found here, and that starts with securing our southern border,” Yee said in a statement Monday.

Her website lists her top priorities as border and election security. 

Yee is a West Valley business owner and has served as treasurer since 2019. She was the first Chinese American Republican woman to win a major statewide office in the history of the United States.

Who Else Could Run?

It’s still early in the campaign cycle, but the race is likely going to be crowded.

On the Republican side, there’s Mark Brnovich, who’s served as Arizona’s attorney general since 2015. Other possible candidates include former congressman Matt Salmon, former Ducey chief of staff Kirk Adams, and Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Chucri.

Aside from López, possible Democrat candidates include City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and US Rep. Greg Stanton

Author

CATEGORIES: POLITICS

Politics

Local News

Related Stories
Share This