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Democrat Katie Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake to win the governorship of Arizona, following a bruising campaign that included harsh accusations, dramatic swings in the polls, and zero debates.
Decision Desk HQ projects Katie Hobbs (D) elected governor in Arizona.
R to D Flip.#DecisionMade: 8:50pm EST
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Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) November 15, 2022
Hobbs’ campaign suffered from its candidate’s refusal to meet Lake in a one-on-one debate. Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state, claimed that debating Lake, who she branded a “conspiracy theorist,” would only “lead to constant interruptions, pointless distractions, and childish name-calling.” She said such an event would not be useful to Arizona voters. But even the media, which sparred frequently with Lake, questioned the strategy.
“If Katie Hobbs loses, remember Oct. 12 – the day she ran away from confronting Kari Lake,” Arizona Republic columnist Laurie Roberts wrote. “Democrats in Arizona are known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, but Hobbs’ refusal to debate her opponent on Wednesday represents a new level of political malpractice.”
Hobbs instead sought to have Arizona’s election commission hold a “town hall-style” event where each candidate is interviewed for 30-minutes each back-to-back.
