Check out the website: https://lenspoliticalnotes.com Look at the recent Political Notes and Len’s Letters on the website. Political Note #347 The Financial State of the States, Political Note #358 Laura Kelly Kansas Governor, Political Note #366 Tony Evers Wisconsin Governor, Political Note #381 Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Governor, Political Note #386 Gavin Newsom (The California Governor Recall), Political Note #396 Terry McAuliffe Virginia Governor
August 1, 2021. Political Note #402 Katie Hobbs Governor Arizona
2022 General Election
So far, as you can see above, I’ve written notes urging support for reelecting Democratic governors: Kansas’s Laura Kelly, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, and Wisconsin’s Tony Evers’ elections. I have also urged you to oppose recalling California Governor Gavin Newsom. The California vote is coming soon – September 14, 2021.
There are more Democratic governors who may need help in their reelection campaign. I will write about some of them. In Virginia, Terry McAuliffe is running for an open Democratic seat. That election will be on November 2, 2021. Like Gavin Newsom, he needs help now.
There are several states where Democrats could replace Republicans as the governor. Katie Hobbes https://www.katiehobbs.org is running to be elected governor of Arizona. She is Arizona’s Secretary of State and Arizona is the state where the legislature decided to hire an outside firm to audit the presidential election results. They created a circus-like atmosphere and, so far, even by their standards, they have found little wrong with the results that Fox News originally announced – Joe Biden carried Arizona.
Katie Hobbs was born in Phoenix, grew up there, and was a State Senator representing Phoenix before she was elected Secretary of State. She was a State Rep before she was elected State Senator where she was the Senate Minority Leader.
Katie Hobbs started out to be a social worker. That was her plan – developed perhaps when she was at Seton Catholic Prep High School and volunteering at her church. Her BA from Northern Arizona University was in social work. Her Master’s Degree from Arizona State University was in social work.
Katie Hobbs began working after she graduated from Arizona State in 1972. Ultimately, she found a home at the Sojourner Center where she was their compliance officer. The Sojourner Center was founded in 1977 as temporary housing providing support for women released from prison. As more women were referred, the organization evolved. By 1982, the Board decided the organization would focus on women who were escaping domestic violence. The organization continued to grow and developed a $4.7 million capital campaign. In 1994, they moved to a new facility where they could house 120 women.
Katie Hobbs became involved in organizations beyond the Sojourner Center. She was active in the Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and became a Board Member of their group for supporting political candidates. She was appointed to Phoenix’s Commission for human services and to its women’s commission. She participated in a leadership institute in 2003, in the Emerge Arizona’s political training program in 2004, and in a Progressive Leadership Political Program in 2007. She was reluctant to participate in the specifically political Emerge program, but came out of that ready to be a political candidate. She remains associated with Arizona’s Emerge program.
Katie Hobbs developed a political career instead of a career in social work. There is no tenet more basic to her political career than what she learned from her work at the Sojourner Center. The work we identify as women’s work has to be better paid. Better pay makes it possible for women to be independent. She carried that belief to her election as State Rep in 2010, her election as State Senator in 2012, and her election as Secretary of State in 2018.
Arizona appears to be transforming itself politically. Democratic Member of Congress Kyrsten Sinema was elected as to the US Senate in November, 2018. Former Astronaut and gun safety advocate Mark Kelly was elected as a Democrat to the US Senate in November, 2020. President Joe Biden carried the electoral college votes of Arizona in November, 2020. Katie Hobbs can take the next step. She can be elected governor of Arizona in November, 2022. Her election would not quite transform Arizona’s politics.
Arizona has an independent commission that draws congressional district lines. Right now, Arizona as 5 Democratic Representatives and 4 Republican Representatives. Next in line to complete the change is the state legislature and the constitutional offices below governor.
Nothing is automatic here. The transition has been difficult. There is no room for complacency. The focus here is on electing Katie Hobbs as governor. The most visible indicator of how difficult the transition has been are the circumstances under which Katie Hobbs is running for Governor.
In Katie Hobbs’ own words: “The truth is, I was prepared for … threats of violence and vitriol…. I have been a social worker for many years and can anticipate this reaction when certain people feel powerless and angry. These actions are utterly abhorrent, especially when directed at my family and my staff They are a symptom of a deeper problem in our state and country – the consistent and systematic undermining of trust in each other and our democratic process. Arizonans deserve to know that elections are safe and secure.
… I am calling on [the] leaders in this state, including the [current] governor …. to stand up for the truth. When facing unimaginable challenges this election year, Arizonans stepped up. More people are registered to vote in our state than ever before, election participation has been at historic highs, thousands answered the call to work at voting locations during a pandemic, and people made their voices heard.
This should be a time for thanking voters and election workers for their incredible commitment during unprecedented challenges. In that spirit, I offer my gratitude and express my admiration for the Arizonans who inspire trust in our democracy.
Katie Hobbs brings eloquence and confidence in the people of Arizona to her gubernatorial campaign. She promises to avoid “personal attacks” and partisan bickering as governor. Arizonans, she says, have had enough of that kind of politics.
Katie Hobbs points to the border. She acknowledges that immigration is a federal issue, that there are limits to what Arizona can do. She would not, however, describe the border as being in crisis. She says that term has been used as a political football by the Republicans. She says she would bring her sensibilities as a social worker to what Arizona can do. She would address the human side of the immigration problem that she saw as a social worker. “Women who were in terrible situations, and were afraid to reach out for the resources that they needed to survive for them and their children” Arizona can help women facing these terrible conditions, while the federal government fixes what is broken in the immigration system.
Katie Hobbs says Arizona’s most important issue, which the state can and must address, is economic development. As the state continues to grow – attracting people because it is, she says, the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family, they all must prepare for the possibility of an economic downturn. The very worst preparation would be to pass the current governor’s proposal for a flat tax that would cut $1.5 Billion from Arizona’s revenue. They need the revenue to do the best they can to serve the people of Arizona.
I urge you to do the best you can to help Katie Hobbes https://www.katiehobbs.org We need a Democratic governor of Arizona. All of us, not just Arizonans. Do what you can, to provide her with the support she needs.
The Cook Report projects the following Democratic governors as Likely, or Leaning Democrat for 2022 rather than as Solidly Democratic.
Kansas Laura Kelly (Lean D) https://www.laurakellyforkansas.com
Maine Janet Mills (Likely D) https://www.janetmills.com/
Michigan Gretchen Whitmer (Lean D) https://www.gretchenwhitmer.com
Minnesota Tim Walz (Likely D) https://walzflanagan.org
Nevada Steve Sisolak (Likely D) https://stevesisolak.com
Wisconsin Tony Evers (Lean D) https://tonyevers.com
Cook thinks Pennsylvania is a Toss up. The Democratic governor is term limited. We won’t know who the Democratic candidate will be for a while.
Two states have votes in 2021
The California Recall is on September 14, 2021. You can donate to Stop the Republican Recall to help Governor Gavin Newsom https://stoptherepublicanrecall.com
Virginia votes in November, 2021. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe https://terrymcauliffe.com is the Democratic candidate in a raise against a Republican ready to spend a lot of his own money.
Democrats challenging Republican incumbents in battleground states:
- Nuclear Engineer Chris Jones is attracting interest in Arkansas, a state where a Democrat does not usually attract interest.
- Two Democrats running in Florida have won state-wide elections. Nikki Fried is that state Agriculture Commissioner. Charlie Crist was governor as a Republican before his conversion. It won’t hurt that the nominee will be running with Val Demings, a very strong candidate for the US Senate.
- The most spectacular Democratic candidate has not yet announced. Stacey Abrams is a serious contender for governor of Georgia, notwithstanding voter suppression.
- Once Maryland sorts out is several Democratic candidates, Democrats should be able to recapture the state house there.
- Unlike Maryland, Massachusetts Republican governor can run again. Third time may not be a charm. Democrats could win this time.
- One of two well-liked mayors – John Cranley of Cincinnati or Nan Whaley of Dayton will be a formidable candidate for governor, especially running along with Congressman Tim Ryan who is a strong candidate for the US Senate.
- Don’t rule out South Carolina as a possibility where former Congressman Joe Cunningham or state senator Mia McLeod will run against the incumbent.
- Beto O’Rourke has not yet announced. He may have found the seat he is best fitted to win is governor of Texas
Organizations to support
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) https://democraticgovernors.org/ …the only organization dedicated to electing Democratic governors and candidates for governor
The Democratic National Committee (DNC). https://democrats.org The official organization of the Democratic Party
Fair Fight https://fairfight.com Promotes fair elections around the country
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