Kari Lake v. Katie Hobbs: Who will be Arizona's next governor?
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Arizona voters have a major decision to make this November: Who will they pick to lead the state?
After eight years, Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, is term-limited out of office. Democrat Katie Hobbs, the secretary of state, and Republican Kari Lake, a former TV news anchor, are vying for Arizona's top job.
The governor leads the state's executive branch, which implements laws and policies and oversees state agencies and departments. At the start of each year, the governor proposes a budget and during the legislative session signs or vetoes the myriad bills passed by lawmakers.
The governor appoints justices to the Arizona Supreme Court and other lower courts and chooses members of the Arizona Board of Regents.
Another power is the issuance of executive orders. That practice was common, and often controversial, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Voter guide: Where to drop off your Arizona ballot and how to track it
Who is Katie Hobbs?
Hobbs, 52, is Arizona's secretary of state. Her job duties include overseeing elections and business registrations, as well as running the state library, which catalogs the official history of the Grand Canyon State.
Prior to election to statewide office in 2018, Hobbs served for eight years in the state Legislature. She was elected to a leadership position in the state Senate in 2014.
Who is Kari Lake?
Lake, 53, worked at Phoenix's Fox 10 News for 22 years before ending her career in early 2021, with most of that time anchoring the nightly news alongside John Hook.
Before joining Fox 10, she briefly worked in Albany, New York. A native of Iowa, she was the youngest of nine children and daughter of a public school teacher.
More coverage
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Katie Hobbs solo interview: After drama over governor debate, Katie Hobbs does solo interview with Arizona PBS
Candidates on abortion: As Arizona courts weigh law, where do Kari Lake and Katie Hobbs stand on abortion and birth control?
Her viewpoint: How Kari Lake's position on abortion has shifted since the primary election
Border policy plans: What would Kari Lake and Katie Hobbs do at the border? Candidates have sharply different approaches
Water policy plans: How would Katie Hobbs, Kari Lake address Arizona's water issues as governor? Here's what they propose
Q&A with Katie Hobbs: What would a Katie Hobbs administration in the Governor's Office look like? Candidate answers questions
Hobbs didn't disclose side job: Facing financial struggles, Katie Hobbs got a side gig. She didn't report the income as required
Targeting immigrants: Echoing Trump, Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake calls immigrants 'rapists'
Education policy plans: Here’s what Lake, Hobbs want for education in Arizona
On the economy: The economy is a top issue for Arizona voters. Here's what Katie Hobbs and Kari Lake propose to do
Governor debate won't happen: Katie Hobbs makes it official: No debate with Kari Lake in Arizona governor race
Off again: Kari Lake interview on Arizona PBS canceled after Clean Elections Commission backs out amid rancor
Candidates talk policy: Hobbs, Lake talk taxes, pandemic policies and how they would govern Arizona
Primary results: What primary voting patterns in Maricopa County say about Lake and the general election ahead
Challenge to voting: Lake lawsuit to ban voting machines tossed due to lack of evidence of problems
Get to know Katie Hobbs: Who is Katie Hobbs? 5 things to know about the Arizona Democratic governor nominee
Get to know Kari Lake: Who is Kari Lake? 5 things to know about Arizona's Republican governor nominee
Profile of Hobbs: Democrat Katie Hobbs' defense of 2020 election puts her in spotlight in Arizona governor's race despite campaign missteps
Profile of Lake: Republican Kari Lake uses false claims about 2020 as basis for Arizona Governor's Office bid
Inside Lake's campaign: Kari Lake's anger-fueled, Trump-inspired bid for Arizona governor
Lake drag queen controversy: 'She's thrown away my friendship': Drag queen calls out Kari Lake for hypocrisy
Lake criticized by McCain family: Lake has repeatedly attacked John McCain's legacy. His family feels betrayed
Hobbs staffer firing controversy: Arizona Senate staffer wins discrimination case (again), putting spotlight on Hobbs
'I'm truly sorry': Katie Hobbs issues new apology in Talonya Adams firing
Get to know them: Who is running for governor? Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and former news anchor Kari Lake face off
Opinion: Find more on the races from The Republic and azcentral.com’s opinion journalists
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona governor candidates: Katie Hobbs v. Kari Lake
