Post submitted by Ianthe Metzger, Former Press Secretary, State & Local 

Today HRC announced its endorsement of Arizona Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs for Arizona Secretary of State.

“Throughout her time in the Arizona legislature, Katie Hobbs has stood shoulder to shoulder with our community, working hard to move equality forward,” said HRC Arizona State Director Justin Unga. “With thousands of Arizonans--including LGBTQ people of color and transgender Arizonans--more vulnerable to discrimination at the ballot box than ever before, we need a Secretary of State who will fight to protect and expand voting rights, and ensure every Arizonan can make their voice heard. Katie Hobbs is a proven problem solver and champion for all Arizonans, and HRC will be working hard on the ground to turn out Arizona’s more than 800,000 Equality Voters for her this November.”

“Throughout my legislative career, I have stood proudly with the LGBTQ community, working to ensure that ALL Arizonans enjoy the same quality of life free from discrimination,” said Katie Hobbs. “I’ve volunteered with LGBTQ youth at one•n•ten, and I have the privilege of working alongside the folks at Phoenix Pride celebrating the LGBTQ community here in the valley. The Human Rights Campaign is doing the important work of electing pro-equality champions around the country and I’m thrilled to have their endorsement in this critical race for Secretary of State.”

First elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and the Arizona State Senate in 2012, Hobbs is a strong advocate for LGBTQ equality, who has supported and co-sponsored several pro-equality bills, including legislation to extend inclusive non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Arizonans and legislation to repeal discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ adoption language in state statutes. She also worked to extend health care to hundreds of thousands of Arizonans, create new education and job training opportunities, and establish rights for victims of sexual and domestic violence. 

In Arizona, HRC has identified more than 800,000 Arizonans as likely Equality Voters, meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Arizona in the 2018 cycle, and has already put staff and resources on the ground in the state. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.