Governor Hobbs Embraces GOP Policies to Boost Reelection Chances

By Staff Reporter |

As the 2026 election approaches, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is shifting her policies toward the right. On Tuesday, she unveiled Operation Desert Guardian (ODG), a new border task force aimed at enhancing security along the southern border. This initiative closely mirrors the Border Strike Force (BSF) established by her Republican predecessor, Doug Ducey.

This pivot towards tougher border security marks a significant change from Hobbs’ earlier approach. During her initial months in office in 2023, she began dismantling Ducey’s BSF, which included removing shipping containers that blocked unsealed sections of the border. Hobbs had previously assured voters on the campaign trail in the summer of 2022 that she would not eliminate the BSF, yet by November, she had expressed her intention to leave border security and immigration enforcement primarily to the federal government.

Christian Slater, Hobbs’ spokesperson, claimed that ODG is markedly different from its predecessor, despite the two sharing similar structures and responsibilities. The BSF served as an enforcement bureau within the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, focusing on combating border-related crimes like drug trafficking and violent offenses. By integrating various law enforcement agencies, the BSF tackled transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) effectively.

ODG, in a similar vein, collaborates with local law enforcement in border counties to disrupt TCO operations and combat border-related crime. This approach underscores Hobbs’ current stance on border security and enforcement.

Additionally, Hobbs appears to be reevaluating her previous positions on various issues. In 2015, she opposed Proposition 123, which aimed to boost funding for public schools by increasing state land trust dollars. Recently, however, she has come out in favor of renewing the proposition, calling it an essential source of funding for Arizona’s education system.

In a further signal of change, Hobbs restored Michael Wisehart as the director of the Department of Economic Security (DES), a role he held under Ducey. She also appointed Kathryn “Katie” Ptak, another former Ducey administration member, to lead the Department of Child Services.

Some of Hobbs’ new initiatives have faced scrutiny. Recently, she created a six-figure role within DES for a senior executive consultant in the Office of Veteran & Military Affairs. Critics, including Republican leaders, have raised concerns about the redundancy of this new position, as its responsibilities overlap significantly with those of the existing Department of Veterans’ Services.

As the political landscape evolves, a total of 11 individuals have already filed statements of interest in the governor’s race. Among them are Republican candidates Alan White, Karrin Taylor Robinson, and Andy Biggs, as well as Green Party candidates William Pounds IV and Lisa Castillo and Libertarian candidate Barry Hess.