Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake, a former local TV news anchor who, during the campaign, would not commit to accepting the results of her race, as she repeated Donald Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was rigged.

Hobbs´ success, who will succeed conservative Doug Ducey, follows that of Senator Mark Kelly, who defeated Republican Blake Masters.

Arizona’s gubernatorial race was one of the most closely watched races in the country this election cycle, with polls showing the two candidates neck and neck throughout the campaign.

Rallies from high-profile politicians — including Trump, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard — were not enough to propel Lake to victory. Obama also visited Phoenix days before voters took to the polls in hopes of propelling Hobbs and other Democrats to victory.

Some members of the GOP in Arizona, including Mesa Mayor John Giles, broke ranks with their party and endorsed Hobbs in October. Term-limited Republican Gov. Doug Ducey endorsed Lake’s primary opponent Karrin Taylor Robson, but he ultimately backed Lake in the general election.

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