Katie Hobbs wins Arizona governor election in 2022 midterms - MSNBC

Democrat Katie Hobbs has been elected politician of Arizona, NBC News projects. Hobbs’ triumph implicit Republican Kari Lake is simply a large triumph for antiauthoritarian norms — and helps support a formidable MAGA person from ascending to an influential office.

For astir of the race, Hobbs, Arizona’s caput of state, held a constrictive pb successful the polls, but successful the last stretches Lake moved somewhat ahead. Lake’s candidacy centered connected 2020 predetermination denialism, creating a crisp foil with Hobbs’ full job. While Lake utilized her skills arsenic a telegenic communicator — thing she honed arsenic an experienced section quality anchor — Hobbs often struggled to marque wide and forceful points connected the run trail.

Hobbs’ astir arguable determination successful the contention was her refusal to statement Lake, adjacent aft trailing her successful the polls. She framed it arsenic a boycott of Lake’s fervent 2020 predetermination denialism, but galore speculated she was disquieted astir being outshone connected the statement stage. While it raised eyebrows connected the left, the determination might’ve been a strategically effectual move.

Hobbs’ triumph is simply a alleviation for ideology watchers. As caput of state, she oversaw the state’s medication of elections, and she represents credible ballot counting successful an epoch successful which the GOP has rallied down the thought that inconvenient losses are impervious of fraud. Setting speech partisan politics, it’s bully quality for the state that Arizona voters chose a small-d politician implicit an authoritarian activistic — particularly successful a captious battleground state.