Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs said on Thursday that for a second consecutive election, she will not participate in a debate. 

OF COURSE! Katie Hobbs to Skip Arizona Gubernatorial Debate Against Trump-Endorsed Andy Biggs – Biggs Campaign Responds!

by Jordan Conradson Jul. 30, 2026 8:00 pm532 Comments

In a statement, Hobbs’ campaign manager Nicole DeMont told 12 News, “We respectfully decline debate invitations in this campaign because face-to-face engagement with Arizonans is more effective than a stage designed for short soundbites and political theater.” 

Drew Sexton, a Senior Advisor to Andy Biggs, slammed Hobbs in a statement to The Gateway Pundit, highlighting her past corruption scandals and noting that Biggs will still participate in the scheduled debate.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, Hobbs is currently under investigation stemming from significant donations made to the Democratic Party and a dark money group that was used for Hobbs’ inaugural events, potentially influencing state contract decisions. Hobbs took $400,000 from a company, which later made millions in return.

Sexton responded, writing,

“The independent and persuadable voters up for grabs in Arizona deserve to hear from statewide candidates in a traditional debate setting, one that was held in every Arizona gubernatorial race since 1954 until Katie Hobbs ran for the position in 2022.

Every other statewide Democrat in 2022 and 2024 decided to debate in the general election, but Katie Hobbs thinks the rules don’t apply to her. That may be why she’s also under criminal investigation for corruption and why she’s already been publicly rejected by her first choice for Lt. Governor.

Whatever her reason is, it won’t stop Andy Biggs from campaigning across the state and participating in the Clean Elections Debate on October 6th to ask for the votes of every Arizonan of every background.

Katie Hobbs can avoid the debate stage but she won’t get to avoid voters in November.”

Of course, the real reason Hobbs won’t debate is that, aside from being plagued by scandals, she has no real ideas to run on.

Just last week, Hobbs got blasted after she attempted to steal credit for the State Republicans’ no-tax-on-tips budget proposal, originally inspired by Trump’s no-tax-on-tips policy at the federal level.

“Here in Arizona, we eliminated taxes on tips so that service workers like the guys here at Chili Pepper in Yuma can keep every dollar they earn through tips. As families struggle with high costs because of Washington’s misguided policies, I’m working to put more money in Arizonans’ pockets, and we did just that with my fourth bipartisan balanced budget that cut taxes for hardworking families,” Hobbs claimed in a video statement.

Conveniently, she didn’t mention that the Republican State Legislature passed the provision as part of the 2026 budget, which sought to mirror Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

MORE

Democrat Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Ratioed on X After Taking Credit for Trump’s No Tax on Tips Rule (VIDEO)

Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs got lit up on social media after she ridiculously claimed credit for President Trump’s no-tax-on-tips platform last week.  Notably, the message came just days after Trump-Endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs won his primary election in a landslide. 

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Jordan Conradson

Jordan Conradson is The Gateway Pundit's White House correspondent. Jordan has played a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption in Arizona's elections and elected officials. His reporting on election crimes in Maricopa County led to the resignation of one election official, and he was later banned from the Maricopa County press room for his courage in pursuit of the truth. TGP and Jordan finally gained access after suing Maricopa County, America's fourth largest county, and winning at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Conradson looks forward to bringing his aggressive style of journalism to the Swamp.

You can email Jordan Conradson here, and read more of Jordan Conradson's articles here.