PHOENIX — In the days following Donald Trump’s re-election, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs visited the Mexican border, expressing a desire for cooperation to address state needs. “Border security was a central theme of Trump’s campaign,” she noted, emphasizing her willingness to communicate Arizona’s concerns to the new administration.
Back in the state capital, Phoenix, Attorney General Kris Mayes was crafting a legal battle plan that has thus far resulted in five lawsuits against the Trump administration, averaging a suit every ten days since her inauguration. Both Hobbs and Mayes, who belong to the Democratic Party, are gearing up for re-election in a state that backed Trump, revealing their contrasting strategies: Hobbs aims for a balanced and cooperative stance, while Mayes adopts a more combative approach.
This divergence encapsulates a broader debate among Democrats nationwide on how to regain political influence. Trump’s rise has reshuffled traditional voter alliances, leaving Democrats searching for a sustainable coalition. Arizona’s two top officials are thus placing different bets on voter preferences next electoral season. Hobbs and Mayes secured their positions narrowly in 2022, with Mayes winning by a mere 280 votes and Hobbs by less than 1 percentage point.
Mayes has expressed a firm stance against yielding to what she describes as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, given the perceived peril the country faces, akin to the Civil War era. Hobbs, however, has opted not to provide interviews, although her team released a memo underscoring her intent to transcend partisan divides and work with the Trump administration and Republican Legislature when goals align.
The varying strategies partly reflect their distinct roles. As governor, Hobbs must navigate a politically aligned legislature and may sometimes require federal aid. As attorney general, Mayes is afforded more latitude to pursue legal disputes. Mayes is also involved in prosecuting Trump’s associates connected to efforts to challenge the 2020 election defeat.
A similar dynamic exists in Michigan, another battleground state Trump narrowly won, where Attorney General Dana Nessel actively challenges the Trump administration while Governor Gretchen Whitmer takes a more measured approach. Mayes and Nessel started a podcast titled “Pantsuits and Lawsuits,” offering insight into their legal and political pursuits.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom occasionally appeals to Trump and Republicans for disaster recovery aid amidst legal actions led by Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Neither Hobbs nor Mayes are proponents of Trump, yet their methods diverged even before the election, with Mayes often appearing alongside Democrat Kamala Harris, whereas Hobbs maintained a strategic distance.
Mayes initiated her legal offensive the day after Trump took office, challenging an executive order on birthright citizenship. She has since joined suits regarding federal funding halts, NIH budget cuts, and scrutinizing Elon Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency.
During a recent town hall in Phoenix, hosted alongside the Democratic attorneys general from Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oregon, Mayes attracted a substantial turnout of concerned citizens, including those wary of federal workforce reductions under Musk. Tatiana Johnson, a young organizer, expressed her desire for accountability, acknowledging the symbolic value of resisting Trump’s administration.
On the other hand, Hobbs has remained mostly reserved, drawing criticism from some Democrats eager for assertive leadership against Trump. Mayes believes Arizonans desire leaders who will persistently defend their rights. She likened this preference to the support for late Republican Senator John McCain, whom voters admired for his consistent advocacy, not necessarily his political stances.
Mayes is betting on this sentiment for her political strategy, and time will tell by 2026 if her approach resonates with the electorate.
