ROUNDUP: Katie Hobbs Crisscrosses State on Arizona First Tour, Meeting with Families, Farmers, Small Businesses, and Healthcare Providers

PHOENIX – Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs embarked on her Arizona First Tour, crisscrossing the state to hear firsthand the challenges people are facing and share her vision for moving Arizona forward. From making tortillas at a family-owned restaurant in Yuma to visiting a seventh-generation farm in Cochise County, opening campaign offices, listening to healthcare providers, and meeting with local business owners and supporters, Katie Hobbs traveled across the state to hear directly from Arizonans and highlight her record of lowering costs and growing Arizona’s economy.

The Arizona First Tour brought her to Gilbert, Prescott, Yuma, Scottsdale, Pearce, Sierra Vista, and Tucson, where she met with healthcare professionals, social workers, farmers, restaurant owners, brewers, volunteers, and working families. Along the way, she heard firsthand how Washington’s cost-hiking agenda—from tariffs driving up the price of essential goods to rising healthcare costs—is affecting Arizona families and small businesses.

Throughout the week, Hobbs visited Alliance Behavioral Care in Gilbert to discuss expanding access to affordable healthcare; met with the owners of Wild Iris Coffee, The Chile Pepper, Tombstone Brewing Company, and the New York Pizza Department to hear how Washington’s tariffs and misguided policies are affecting local businesses; toured Curry Seed & Chile Company with seventh-generation farmer Ed Curry to discuss water security and agriculture; celebrated National Drive-Thru Day at the Burger King where she worked in high school; and opened Copper State Victory coordinated campaign offices in Prescott, Yuma, Scottsdale, and Sierra Vista, continuing to build the grassroots infrastructure needed to win in November.

The tour concluded in Tucson, where Hobbs launched a weekend of action canvass, visited another local small business, and rallied nearly 700 supporters alongside Senator Mark Kelly, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, Mayor Regina Romero, and congressional candidate JoAnna Mendoza, emphasizing the campaign’s momentum and her commitment to continuing to lower costs and deliver for Arizona families.

Read more below:

AZ Family/KTVK: Gov. Hobbs highlights healthcare priorities

• Anchor: Governor Katie Hobbs is making healthcare a focus of her re-election campaign. 

• Anchor: More than 50,000 Arizonans have dropped their Affordable Care Act plans this year, saying their premiums spiked too high after Congress decided not to renew Obamacare subsidies last year.

• Anchor: Visiting a community health center today, Hobbs voiced concerns over federal funding cuts to Medicaid. 

• Anchor: The governor says she’s planning a series of healthcare forums as she launches her general election campaign.

 

12 News/KPNX: Hobbs discusses medicaid cuts, mental health

• Anchor: Governor Katie Hobbs was busy yesterday with several stops in the Valley and Northern Arizona. 

• Anchor: She kicked off her Arizona First tour with a health roundtable discussion at a behavioral health clinic. She met with psychologists, social workers, and administrators there to discuss Medicaid cuts and keep mental health services accessible for Arizonans.

• Katie Hobbs: I think these stories just really reinforce why we need to keep fighting for access to care and ensuring that we’re protecting that health care for so many Arizonans who need it. 

• Anchor: After the discussion, she did travel to Prescott to officially open another campaign office.

 

Prescott Daily Courier: Hobbs, Nez launch coordinated campaign office in Prescott

• Gov. Katie Hobbs and Democratic U.S. House candidate Jonathan Nez spoke Wednesday at the grand opening of the Copper State Victory Prescott campaign office.

• Copper State Victory describes itself as a coordinated campaign effort focused on reelecting Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes, while supporting Democratic candidates across Arizona. The Prescott stop is the second on Hobbs’ statewide campaign tour.

• “I know you’re here because you know what’s at stake in this election,” Hobbs told the crowd. “I didn’t leave social work when I ran for office. I ran for office because too often, as a social worker, I didn’t see our elected leaders fighting for the right people and the right things. And I realized that if you can’t change policy, you have to change who’s making policy.”

• Hobbs noted that she is one of two Democratic governors seeking reelection in states carried by President Donald Trump.

• “I’m sure you all know he won Arizona with the largest margin of any swing state, 5.5%,” Hobbs said. “I’m also the only Democratic governor in a toss-up race in 2022. I won by 0.7%. We know this race is going to be just as close. Our electorate here is plus-nine Republican, so that’s a lot to overcome. I know we can do it.”

• Nez also criticized Crane and Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs.

• “Both Crane and Biggs voted to reduce taxes for elites in the Big Ugly Bill,” Nez said. “Crane and Biggs backed budget cuts to Medicaid, making health care more expensive. And Crane and Biggs voted against a housing bill to make housing cheaper.

• “Those two voted against ending the Iran war, making gasoline more expensive, and goods and services prices are skyrocketing as well,” he continued. “They both supported tariffs, hurting small businesses in and around the state.”

 

KSWT: Gov. Hobbs hits the campaign trail

• Anchor: Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs made her way to Yuma today to rally supporters. Governor Hobbs made a special stop in Yuma today to speak with a local small business and Yuma County leaders. 

• Anchor: Her first stop today was at a local restaurant, at The Chile Pepper. Hobbs spoke with the owners about how rising costs brought on by Washington D.C. have affected their day-to-day operations and their ability to thrive. 

• Anchor: We had the chance to ask her about her opponent Andy Biggs winning the primary election. She says the choice on who people would vote for couldn’t be any clearer. 

• Katie Hobbs: I mean, it’s not really a surprise, and I think Arizonans have a real choice in this election: someone who is focused on delivering for Arizonans, lowering costs, securing the border, creating good-paying jobs, or someone who continues to champion Washington’s agenda and vote against Arizonans every chance he gets.

 

Telemundo 3 Noticias: Gobernadora Katie Hobbs visita la ciudad

• Anchor 1: La gobernadora demócrata de Arizona, Katie Hobbs, viajó hoy a Yuma para movilizar a sus simpatizantes. Nuestro reportero Abraham Retana habló con ella y nos tiene los detalles.

• Anchor 2: La gobernadora Hobbs hizo una parada especial hoy en Yuma para conversar con una pequeña empresa local y con líderes del condado de Yuma, su primera parada de hoy fue en el restaurante Chile Pepper, donde habló con los propietarios sobre el aumento de costos provocado por las decisiones de Washington.

• Katie Hobbs: No es ninguna sorpresa. Los habitantes de Arizona tienen una opción real en estas elecciones, alguien que se centra en dar resultados para Arizona, reduciendo costos, asegurando la frontera, creando empleos bien remunerados y alguien que se esté defendiendo de la agenda de Washington.

• Anchor 2: Tuvimos la oportunidad de preguntarle sobre la victoria de su oponente Andy Biggs, ella afirma que la elección sobre por quién votar no podría ser más clara. 

• Katie Hobbs: Lo que he escuchado de los residentes de Arizona es que las alzas de los precios han sido un reto. Ellos quieren buena educación para sus hijos, una frontera segura, y yo me he enfocado en eso.

• Anchor 2: La mandataria estatal también abrió las puertas de su oficina de campaña en Yuma, donde diversos candidatos tendrán un lugar para reunirse con la comunidad. 

• Kris Mayes: La gobernadora y yo, necesitamos a Yuma que vote. Necesitamos a los independientes y a los republicanos que voten por nosotros. Así que vamos a tener gente aquí en la oficina para que impulsen el voto. 

• Anchor 2: La gobernadora Hobbs enfrentará directamente al representante Andy Biggs en las elecciones generales de noviembre.

 

KYMA: Gov. Katie Hobbs visits Yuma to rally supporters

• Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) visted [sic] Yuma Thursday afternoon to rally supporters.

• During her visit, Gov. Hobbs stopped at and toured the Chile Pepper, where she spoke with the owners “about how rising costs brought on by Washington, D.C. policies have affected their day-to-day operations and their ability to thrive.”

• The governor then attended the grand opening of the Yuma Copper State Victory Office, where she was joined by Charlene Fernandez, chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, and Yuma County Board of Supervisors Chairman Martin Porchas.

• Hobbs, who is running for reelection, will face off against Republican candidate Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) in the November midterm election.

 

KAWC: Hobbs highlights education priorities, rising costs during Yuma campaign stop

• Ahead of the opening of her campaign’s Copper State Victory Office in Yuma, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs stopped at Chile Pepper Thursday, where she discussed education priorities, rising costs and other issues facing the state.

• Before getting down to business, Hobbs stepped into the kitchen to prepare tortillas, then sat down for lunch with the Gutierrez family, founders of the restaurant. Over the meal, she listened to their perspectives as small business owners.

• Hobbs told the press that some of that conversation focused on how the White House’s tariff policies are driving up the restaurant’s supply costs.

• “They employ 170 people here in Yuma, and it’s affecting their customers,” she said. “They’ve had to raise their prices. They’re seeing that in the customer base, and it’s a challenge.”

• Hobbs used those concerns to pivot to the governor’s race and her Republican opponent, Andy Biggs.

• “That’s really the contrast in this election,” she said. “My opponent is someone who continues to support Washington’s agenda, including tariffs that are raising costs everywhere.”

• “When I ran for governor, and the way I’ve governed — I’m focused on working with anyone to solve real problems to deliver for Arizonans,” she said. “I’ve done that. But I also said, ‘Look, I’m going to be a backstop. I’m going to stop bills that take away people’s rights, that attack our right to vote, reproductive freedom — things like that. And that’s what I’ve done.”

• With the election approaching, Hobbs is taking her case — on education and otherwise — to voters.

 

Yuma Sun: Governor visits the Chile Pepper, new field office

• Gov. Katie Hobbs made a couple of stops in Yuma on Thursday in her bid to retain her public office. The Democratic is seeking reelection in a race against her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District.

• Hobbs’ first stop was at the Chile Pepper, located at 2401 S. 4th Ave, a family-owned restaurant which has been a Yuma staple since 1956. Andrea Huff of B & G Family Ltd. was ecstatic to have Hobbs visit their restaurant.

• “We’re so excited, we’re huge supporters,” Huff said. “We love that she supports small businesses.”

• While at the restaurant, Hobbs learned to make some of the restaurant’s food in the kitchen. Briefly mentioning that she once worked at Burger King, Hobbs washed her hands, put on the Chile Pepper hat and apron, and was shown how to make various Mexican dishes such as beans and cheese by restaurant staff.

• Afterward, Hobbs sat down with the Gutierrez family, the founders and long-time owners of the restaurant, to discuss the effects of federal policies out of Washington, D.C., such as tariffs, and how they have affected day-to-day operations of Yuma businesses such as the Chile Pepper.

• “We talked about how Washington’s policies are really hurting small businesses,” Hobbs said. “They’re being hit really hard with their spending because of the tariffs. And they’re having to make really hard decisions as an employer.”

• After her stop at the Chile Pepper, Hobbs made her way over to the opening of the Yuma Copper State Victory Office to speak alongside Arizona Democratic Party Chair Charlene Fernandez and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.

• Hobbs, who only won her previous election by 17,000 votes, stresses that the upcoming race will be close.

• “This is going to be a tough race,” Hobbs said to the crowd at the opening. “I am the only Democratic governor in a toss-up race.”

 

Sierra Herald/Review: Hobbs talks to Herald/Review about rural concerns, Lt. Gov pick

• Gov. Katie Hobbs was in Cochise County last Saturday to meet with the owners of two small businesses before recognizing the opening of the Sierra Vista office of Copper State Victory, a statewide get-out-the-vote effort promoted by the Democratic Party.

• The governor first stopped at the family-owned Curry Seed & Chile Company farm in Pearce where she met several FFA officers and took part in discussions about water concerns and the impacts of tariffs on farmers and ranchers.

• She then visited Tombstone Brewing Company in Sierra Vista to hear from the owners about how rising costs driven by federal policies are affecting their day-to-day operations.

• Hobbs finished her time in Cochise County with a short speech to local Democrats gathered to celebrate Copper State Victory’s new headquarters in Sierra Vista, where she also talked about the importance of grassroots volunteer efforts.

• Before leaving Cochise County, Hobbs spoke with the Herald/Review about two critical topics ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election: picking her lieutenant governor and addressing the challenges of rural economic development.

• Herald/Review Media: You have a big decision coming up – Sept. 4 is the deadline for you to announce your lieutenant governor pick. Do you have any front runners? And if not, what are you looking for?

• Gov. Katie Hobbs: Well, I’m not ready to share specifics today, but I do know that Arizonans are really excited about this because it’s the first time in our state’s history that the governor and lieutenant governor will be running on the same ticket together and the first time we have a lieutenant governor.

• Hobbs: I’ve heard from a lot of Arizonans about what they’re looking for. And I certainly want to have someone who shares my approach to governing, working across the aisle, focusing on the issues rather than the partisan politics and tackling the tough challenges that so many Arizonans are facing.

• Herald/Review: One of the biggest issues in Cochise County this election happens to be economic development in rural Arizona. […] How do you see the balance?

• Hobbs: Economic development across the state is so critical to helping ensure that every Arizonan can thrive. The more that we can ensure there’s economic opportunity in communities around Cochise County, the more folks are going to want to be able to stay here and provide for their families here and continue living in the place they grew up and their family might have called home for generations.

• Hobbs: So, I really focus on bringing opportunity across the state and not just focusing on the urban areas like Pima and Maricopa County. And our Arizona Commerce Authority is focused on rural community development or economic development specifically.

• Hobbs: We also have a big focus on small business support because I know that, especially in our smaller communities, small businesses really are the economic backbone.

• Hobbs: We’re trying to provide all kinds of tools so that those folks can thrive as well. And we have to address issues like quality education and affordable housing and childcare and all the things that create barriers to economic development in order for all of those other things to happen.

 

13 News/KOLD: Gov. Hobbs and allies rally in Tucson

• Anchor: Governor Katie Hobbs is currently in Tucson, holding a rally with several other prominent state officials as we are now 100 days from the general election.

• Anchor: Senator Mark Kelly took the podium in support of the governor’s platform, speaking about the importance of every vote in the coming election.

• Mark Kelly: At the end of the day, it means that our kids can dream about their future, and know that their hard work will actually pay off like it did for all of us.

• Anchor: That wasn’t the only event that the governor held during her time in Tucson today. Governor Hobbs also launched a canvassing operation in the city as she’s now putting her campaign into action. 

• Katie Hobbs: When you have someone who spent the last decade in congress building one of the most extreme partisan records in the country, and who has voted time and again for these policies that are raising costs for Arizonans, how can you trust him to actually then work to tackle those costs and bring them down?

 

News4/KVOA: Gov. Hobbs rallies democrats

• Anchor: We turn now to Decision 2026. We are an even 100 days out from Election Day this fall, Tuesday, November 3rd, and this afternoon here in Tucson, Governor Katie Hobbs and other Arizona Democrats, rallied supporters in midtown at La Rosa. 

• Anchor: It’s part of Governor Hobbs’ Arizona First Tour, where she is going up and down the state talking to voters in the early days of this general election campaign. 

• Anchor: She spent yesterday in Cochise County. She was joined today for that rally by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, and Democratic hopeful CD6 candidate JoAnna Mendoza.

• Anchor: As she begins the general election campaign, Hobbs points to affordability in the cost of living as two big issues for voters, and she called out her Republican challenger, Congressman Andy Biggs. 

• Katie Hobbs: When Arizona families were worried about the cost of living, Andy Biggs wasn’t. As prices climbed, he dismissed concerns by saying that there was, quote, no inflation and, quote, the tariffs seemed to be working. Meanwhile, Arizona families are the ones paying more at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and for everyday necessities. 

• Mark Kelly: Time and time again, Andy Biggs has chosen the powerful over the people he was elected to serve. So that’s the choice in this election. Arizona can continue to have a governor who fights for the people who are trying to get ahead or elect somebody who stands with the powerful, and the well-connected, and the wealthy.

 

13 News/KOLD: Gov. Katie Hobbs hosts 100 Days Out Rally in Tucson

• With the November general elections now 100 days away, Hobbs hosted a rally in Tucson to mobilize voters.

• Hobbs will take on Republican nominee Andy Biggs in November.

• Kelly took the podium in support of Hobbs’ platform and spoke of the importance of voting in the upcoming election.

 

News4/KVOA: Hobbs rallies Democrats in Tucson 100 days out from Election Day

• Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs rallied supporters in Tucson Sunday afternoon at La Rosa.

• The rally is part of Hobbs’ Arizona First Tour, where she has traveled up and down the state talking to voters in the early days of this general election campaign. She spent Saturday in Cochise County.

• As she begins the general election campaign, Hobbs points to affordability and the cost of living as two big issues for voters. She called out her Republican challenger, Congressman Andy Biggs.

• “When Arizona families were worried about the cost of living, Andy Biggs wasn’t,” Hobbs said. “As prices climbed, he dismissed concerns by saying there was no inflation and, quote, ‘the tariffs seem to be working.’ Meanwhile, Arizona families are the ones paying more at the grocery store, at the gas pump and for everyday necessities.”

• “Time and time again, Andy Biggs has chosen the powerful over the people he was elected to serve,” Sen. Kelly said. “So, that’s the choice in this election. Arizona can continue to have a governor who fights for the people who are trying to get ahead or elect somebody who stands with the powerful and the well-connected and the wealthy.”