What is she worried about? Hobbs shows clear intent to maintain questionable Arizona elections practices instead of making our elections secure
By Shelby Busch, Arizona GOP Delegation Chair
Governor Katie Hobbs' recent veto of a crucial election integrity bill is nothing short of an admission—an admission that she does not want clarity, fairness, or security in Arizona’s elections. Instead, she prefers the murky waters of ambiguity, the very same conditions that cast a long shadow over her own so-called victory in 2022.
Representative Alexander Kolodin called it correctly when he stated: “Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto this bill is not only irresponsible but also detrimental to the democratic rights of some of our most vulnerable citizens.” He went on to highlight how this veto “leaves a critical aspect of our state law ambiguous, failing to secure the voting rights of individuals with disabilities and our dedicated servicemembers.”
Maricopa County election officials have stated that, with these reforms in place, 95% of election results will be reported on election night, restoring public trust and eliminating unnecessary delays in ballot counting.
Let’s be clear: Governor Hobbs does not care about securing the rights of these voters, nor does she care about election integrity. If she did, she would welcome any measure that strengthens transparency and ensures that every legitimate vote counts. Instead, she has chosen to wield her veto pen like a shield against scrutiny, doubling down on the same broken system that conveniently delivered her the governorship under highly suspect circumstances.
Hobbs, whose tenure as Secretary of State was riddled with controversy, oversaw an election marred by widespread chaos, incompetence, and suppression of Republican voters in Maricopa County. The errors and irregularities were so egregious that the public's faith in Arizona’s electoral process has never been lower. And now, in an opportunity to right those wrongs and ensure clear protections for voters, she has once again obstructed progress—because an opaque system benefits her politically.
This veto is not just a policy decision; it’s a calculated move to maintain confusion and prevent meaningful reform. It is an insult to the men and women of our military, who risk their lives defending the very democracy she is actively undermining. It is a slap in the face to disabled voters, who deserve clear and unambiguous protections to ensure their ballots are counted.
But more than that, it is an indictment of her own legitimacy. If Hobbs truly won her election fair and square, why is she so terrified of accountability? Why is she fighting tooth and nail to keep our election system riddled with loopholes and uncertainties? A leader confident in her victory would embrace transparency. Hobbs, instead, recoils from it.
Arizonans deserve better than a governor who vetoes common-sense election reforms simply to protect the system that put her in power. The fight for election integrity will not end with this veto. The people of Arizona see through the charade, and no amount of political maneuvering will erase the questions surrounding her administration. The truth will prevail.
