Gov. Katie Hobbs is about to test her popularity with rank-and-file Democrats
Gov. Katie Hobbs is about to test her popularity and power with rank-and-file Democrats this weekend over control of the party’s future.
The governor, who narrowly defeated a Republican extremist last November, is going against nearly all other elected Democrats with her choice for party chair.
She’s backing Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo, a former state lawmaker and early supporter during the Democratic primary.
The rest of heavy hitters – including Sen. Mark Kelly, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes and Reps. Greg Stanton and Ruben Gallego – are backing union organizer Yolanda Bejarano.
Why is Hobbs betting so strongly on Gallardo?
At first glance, it looks like Democrats should be fine with either choice, but if that’s the case, why fight over it?
Like Gallardo, Bejarano is vowing to organize from the bottom up and fight tooth and nail to elect Democrats at all levels, including flipping the U.S. House and the state Legislature.
There must be something else that has prompted Hobbs to break ranks with fellow Democrats this early in her administration.
She’s betting on Gallardo, who by many accounts represent the Democratic establishment, to showcase her strength within the party. And it seems the governor is heading for a resounding defeat if Bejarano’s major leaguers deliver for her on Saturday.
The election is set for mid-morning among the roughly 750 state committee members, who’ll elect the new chair for the next two years.
The winner will replace outgoing party chair and state Sen. Raquel Terán, who opted out of the post.
Ask the GOP: Party leadership matters
Party leaders are important because they fundraise with small and big donors, and set the tone and priorities for races up and down the ballot.
Nobody has given Arizona a better glimpse of how important a party leader can be than the outgoing Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward. She’s not running for reelection, so GOP committee members are also choosing a new leader on Saturday.
After election losses:Arizona Republicans will choose a new leader
The GOP race is shaping to be contentious, too, with six contenders vying to replace Ward. Two front-runners have emerged, Steve Daniels and Jeff DeWit. Daniels is an activist who wants to overhaul the election system, while DeWit is all-in for Trump.
We’ve seen how Ward dragged the state’s GOP to the deep end of Trump’s conspiracy theories over election fraud, with dire consequences for the party. All their chosen statewide candidates lost their bids in November – thankfully. It’ll be telling who replaces Ward.
The contrasting outcome of Democrats and Republicans couldn’t be sharper. That’s why you would think Democrats would have already coalescenced around one candidate.
Is this a power grab among Democrats?
That makes this internal power grab more intriguing. Hobbs isn’t talking about her strategy or reasoning, other than touting Gallardo in a video as one of “the strongest progressive voices” in the state.
Sen. Kelly and the rest of the Democratic gang are also touting Bejarano’s progressiveness and organizing skills. She works for the Communications Workers of America labor union and has been a force behind the success of Democratic victories, her backers say.
Perhaps Hobbs is reciprocating Gallardo’s early support by backing him now, or maybe she truly believes all her fellow elected Democrats are wrong.
Hobbs is no doubt buoyed with her recent victory, but this internal power grab could set the tone and course of party politics, with long-term consequences.
Elvia Díaz is editorial page editor for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gov. Katie Hobbs is about to test her popularity with Democrats
