Katie Hobbs and Other New Officials Sworn into Office Amid Backlash

On Monday, Democrat Katie Hobbs was sworn in to serve as the 24th Governor of Arizona at a ceremony closed off from the public and media, barring a news photographer. Joining her were other newly elected or re-elected officials, including Kris Mayes (D) for Attorney General, Adrian Fontes (D) for Secretary of State, Kimberly Yee (R) for State Treasurer, and Tom Horne (R) for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The 2022 General Election results show that Hobbs won her race by 17,117 votes. However, her Republican opponent Kari Lake has refused to concede. Lake’s campaign called the system “screwed up” because Arizonans were allegedly disenfranchised in this election, but Hobbs was sworn into office anyway.

Lake is involved in an ongoing election challenge against Hobbs and Maricopa County. While her case was dismissed by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson following a two-day evidentiary trial, Lake has not given in. Lake filed a motion to appeal Tuesday. Then Sunday, she filed a petition to appeal her case directly to the Arizona Supreme Court.

“We are eager to have the highest court consider our mountain of evidence,” Lake’s campaign tweeted. “The sooner the people of Arizona are provided the legal remedy that they deserve, the sooner [Lake] can begin to put [Arizona first].”

Moreover, a video has begun circulating of Hobbs laughing during her ceremony after being asked to swear she would support the constitution. Lake’s campaign quickly commented on the clip, calling Hobbs an “illegitimate” Governor “laughing in the face of our constitution.”

“We will expose this fraud for the world to see. Justice is coming. [Hobbs] won’t be laughing then,” the campaign said…. (Excerpt from The News Star Network)