Katie Hobbs Bio
Kathleen Marie Hobbs, known publicly as Katie Hobbs, is an American politician and social worker serving as the 24th governor of Arizona. A member of the Democratic Party, she was sworn into office on January 2, 2023, and is the fifth female governor in Arizona history. Before winning the governorship, Hobbs served as Arizona’s secretary of state from 2019 to 2023 and represented her community in the Arizona Legislature from 2011 to 2019.
Raised in Arizona and trained as a social worker, Hobbs built her career in nonprofit leadership and public service before entering politics. She defeated Republican nominee Kari Lake in the closely watched 2022 gubernatorial election and currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
Katie Hobbs
Early Life and Background
Kathleen Marie Hobbs was born on December 28, 1969, in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in nearby Tempe in a middle-class household. She has a twin sister named Becky, and her family at times relied on food stamps during her childhood. Hobbs attended Catholic schools throughout her early years and graduated from Seton Catholic High School in 1988.
As a first-generation Arizonan, Hobbs developed a strong connection to her home state and the communities around her. Her upbringing shaped her interest in social services and public policy, leading her toward a career path focused on helping vulnerable families across Arizona.
Path to US Politics
Hobbs attended Northern Arizona University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1992. She then continued her education at Arizona State University, completing a master’s degree in social work in 1995. Before entering elected office, she worked as a social worker, served as chief compliance officer for Sojourner Center, one of the nation’s largest domestic violence shelters, and taught social work as an adjunct faculty member at Paradise Valley Community College and Arizona State University.
Her entry into politics was shaped by leadership programs with Valley Leadership, Emerge Arizona, and the Center for Progressive Leadership. She also served as a delegate for Hillary Clinton at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and worked with the Phoenix Women’s Commission and the Phoenix Human Services Commission. Hobbs later served as executive director of Emerge Arizona from 2013 to 2019, a role she credited with deepening her commitment to public office.
Katie Hobbs Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
Katie Hobbs was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010, representing the 15th legislative district alongside Lela Alston. During her single term in the House, she focused on social services and vulnerable families, drawing on her professional background in social work.
She ran for the Arizona Senate in 2012 following redistricting and won her first senate seat, representing the 24th legislative district. Her early legislative work established her as a reliable voice on social welfare and family policy issues in the Arizona Legislature.
Arizona Senate Breakthrough (2012–2019)
Hobbs was reelected to the Arizona Senate in 2014 and again in 2016, building a strong record of constituent service. In 2015, she became the Senate minority leader and went on to serve two terms in that role, becoming a leading figure for Democrats in a chamber dominated by Republicans.
During her time as minority leader, Hobbs was involved in a discrimination lawsuit brought by a former Senate staffer, Talonya Adams, who won a $2.75 million judgment in November 2021 related to her firing. Hobbs chose not to seek another term in the State Senate and instead announced her candidacy for Arizona secretary of state in 2017.
Secretary of State Era (2019–2023)
Hobbs was sworn in as Arizona’s secretary of state on January 7, 2019, after a closely contested 2018 election against Republican Steve Gaynor. She became the first Democrat to hold the post since Richard Mahoney left office in 1995. Because Arizona has no lieutenant governor, she stood first in the line of succession behind Governor Doug Ducey.
As secretary of state, Hobbs gained national attention for her response to the 2021 Senate Republicans’ audit of the 2020 presidential election results in Maricopa County. She publicly criticized the audit’s lack of chain of custody and called its procedures better suited for chasing conspiracy theories than serving as a professional audit. The backlash included death threats, prompting the Arizona Department of Public Safety to assign protective personnel to her and her staff.
Governor of Arizona Era (2023–Present)
Katie Hobbs announced her candidacy for governor of Arizona on June 2, 2021, and won the Democratic primary with 72.3 percent of the vote. In the 2022 general election, she narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kari Lake with 50.3 percent of the vote. Lake refused to concede and later filed lawsuits contesting the results, which were ultimately rejected by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Since taking office, Hobbs has issued numerous executive orders, including protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. She signed a bill in May 2024 repealing a near-total abortion ban from 1864 that the Arizona Supreme Court had reinstated earlier that year, with the repeal taking effect on September 14, 2024. She has also established commissions on prison oversight, homelessness and housing, elections, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. On her 100th day in office, she set a new Arizona record with 63 vetoes in a single legislative session, surpassing the previous record held by former governor Janet Napolitano.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hobbs became the fifth female governor of Arizona when she took office in 2023, setting a state record. Her tenure has been marked by high-profile vetoes, executive actions on abortion rights, and decisions surrounding the death penalty, including the 2025 execution of Aaron Brian Gunches and Richard Djerf. In May 2023, the Russian government added Hobbs to a list of people permanently banned from entering the country in response to U.S. sanctions.
Katie Hobbs Career Wins
Katie Hobbs has compiled a steady record of electoral victories across her political career, winning multiple state legislative races, a statewide contest for secretary of state, and the Arizona governorship. Her wins have come in both Democratic primaries and competitive general elections in a swing state.
Statewide and Legislative Wins
Hobbs won her first election to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and followed it with Senate victories in 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2018, she won the race for Arizona secretary of state against Republican Steve Gaynor by a margin of roughly 20,000 votes, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in more than two decades.
Her most prominent victory came in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election, when she defeated Republican Kari Lake with 50.3 percent of the vote. The win made her only the fifth woman to serve as governor of Arizona and the first Democrat elected to the office in years.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond electoral wins, Hobbs helped shape Arizona’s policy landscape through executive orders, the repeal of the 1864 abortion ban, and the establishment of multiple statewide commissions. Her veto record in 2023 made national headlines and cemented her reputation as an active executive willing to use her authority.
Katie Hobbs Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Katie Hobbs was raised in a middle-class family in Tempe, Arizona, alongside her twin sister, Becky. Her family sometimes relied on food stamps during her childhood, an experience that influenced her later focus on social services and family policy.
Hobbs is married to Patrick Goodman, a child therapist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The couple met at church in 1992 and married in 1996, and they have two children together. They live in Phoenix, where Hobbs has spent much of her life and career.
Personal Life
Hobbs is Catholic and has been an avid cyclist since her high school years. She is also a triathlete and maintains an active lifestyle outside of politics. Her professional affiliations include the National Association of Social Workers, reflecting her longstanding commitment to the social work field.