November 2024: Midterm Election
November 2024: Midterm Election
I have never interfaced with Katie Hobbs, but her actions left me pondering her influence over the November 2024 midterm elections. Katie Hobbs ran for and was elected governor in 2024. She ran for Arizona Governor while she was Arizona Secretary of State. This would appear to exclude Governor Hobbs as have any influence over Maricopa County governance. However, there is some overlap in the election process between her role as the Arizona Secretary of State and Maricopa County’s implementation of the elections process.
According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s website, the office's primary duty is described as follows:
“The highest profile duty of the office is oversight and administration of secure and accurate elections. The Secretary of State serves as Chief Election Officer for the State. One of the goals of the office is to register more voters and encourage their active participation in elections. As part of elections administration, the office certifies: voting devices, election results, candidates and measures to the ballot, as well as the results of statewide elections."
While there may have been no statute or policy to prevent Katie Hobbs from managing the election process for her own election, the situation suggests an ethical question. You might be surprised to learn how this issue isn’t about Katie; it’s about how her behaviors may have influenced other government employees.
Jamie's Timeline
- 2020: General Election Anomalies — Maricopa County has numerous election anaomalies
- 2021: My Journey Begins — Starting to ask questions about lessons learned
- November 2022: Ethical Issues with Katie Hobbs Overseeing Her Own Election — As Arizona S.O.S., Katie Hobbs oversaw her own election
- December 2024: Gaining Support — [My action; PPP Resolution Approved; no governance gaps]
- April 15, 2025: Public Records Request — [My action; no governance gaps]
- May 15, 2025: Let’s Play Hot Potato — Public Records Request runaround
- June 25, 2025: Runbeck Contract Delivered - Responsive Record Delivered by Procurement
- June 25, 2025: Dominion Contract Delivered - Responsive Record Delivered by Procurement
- July 25, 2025; Still Gaining Support - [My action; Another PPP Resolution Approved; no new governance gaps]
- November 20, 2025: Debbie Lesko Presentation - Explains Recent Lost Ballots
- December 1, 2025: Special Complaint File with Court - [My action; no new governance gaps]
- January 24, 2026, Broadening the Support - [My action; PPP Resolution Approved; no new governance gaps]
- February 23, 2026: Plaintiff's Briefing - [My action; I filed a brief with the court; no new governance gaps]
- March 12, 2026: Maricopa County Defense Briefing - Maricopa County Legal Team's Defense Brief
- April 3,, 2026, Plaintiff's Response to the Defense Briefing - [My action; no new governance gaps]
- April 15, 2026, Evidentiary Hearing Set - Judge requires additional information before a final decision is made.
- June 1, 2026: Judge's Decision - Judge Rules in Favor of the County
- June 8, 2026: Arizona State Ombudsman Replies - Representative from the Arizona Ombudsman Citizens's Aid agency
- June 9, 2026: Maricopa County Ombudsman Replies - MC response was consistent with Arizona Ombudsman's expectations
- August 3, 2026: Submitted Complaint — Formal complaint submitted & response was as expected.
Notable Governance Observations
There was news coverage about the ethics associated with Katie Hobbs overseeing her own 2024 candidacy for Arizona Governor while serving as the Arizona Secretary of State. It is for this reason, Principle 1 – Demonstrate Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Values was considered relevant from a governance perspective.
Potential Governance Gap(s):
- Principle 1 - Demonstrate Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Values
- Attribute(s):
