By Ben Meiselas
As Washington is consumed by dysfunction, with Trump allies calling Democrats “terrorists,” threatening to defund health care, and even proposing to eliminate the courts, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is quietly proving that effective, compassionate governance is still possible in America.
When I sat down with Governor Hobbs on the MeidasTouch Podcast, we began by contrasting the chaos in Washington with what’s happening in her state. “I have continued to focus on Arizonans first and the politics last,” she told me. “We got stuff done because I’m willing to work with anyone to deliver for Arizonans on the tough issues we’re facing.”
Hobbs has governed through divided government and still managed to deliver the most productive legislative session of her tenure. When Republican extremists in the state legislature tried to push through a budget that slashed public services, Hobbs vetoed it, forced them back to the table, and ultimately passed a bipartisan, balanced budget that strengthens health care, education, and public safety.
“We protected health care for 60,000 Arizonans with disabilities,” she said. “Their budget slashed meals for kids and nutrition assistance—ours invests in school meals for 68,000 children. Their budget cut law enforcement funding—ours gives well-deserved raises to state police and fire.”
It’s the kind of practical, people-first leadership that stands in sharp contrast to the cruelty and chaos coming from Trump’s allies in Washington. While MAGA figures like Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs boast about refusing to negotiate on health care and deride Democrats as “terrorists,” Hobbs is proving what common sense can achieve.
She’s also been blunt about the consequences of Trump’s failed policies. “He ran on lowering costs, and he’s doing the exact opposite,” Hobbs told me. “Whether it’s skyrocketing insurance premiums, ripping away Medicaid, or tariffs that are driving up prices for everyone, he’s made life harder for working families.”
Under Hobbs’s leadership, Arizona has created over 100,000 jobs and is one of just a dozen states currently experiencing economic expansion. But she isn’t complacent. She talked about how Trump’s trade wars, uncertainty in the markets, and housing affordability crisis are real challenges that demand action, not soundbites.
“We’ve invested huge amounts in our state’s housing trust fund,” she said. “We’re building thousands of units of affordable housing, providing down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, and cutting red tape to allow for faster approvals and more housing options.” She’s also championed legislation to address Arizona’s long-term water issues, linking sustainable land use with smart housing policy, an area where most politicians fear to tread.
Our conversation turned to democracy itself. As Arizona’s former Secretary of State, Hobbs has long defended mail-in and early voting, systems that have been secure and widely used by Republicans and Democrats alike for decades. “About 75% of Arizonans utilize early voting,” she explained. “It’s efficient and secure. Even Republicans like Andy Biggs and David Schweikert once supported it before joining Trump in attacking it. It makes no sense.”
“It makes no sense.” That’s a phrase that applies to much of what we’re seeing in Trump’s America. The lies about the economy, the attacks on the judiciary, and the manufactured chaos designed to exhaust people into apathy. Hobbs’s approach couldn’t be more different.
“It is a lot of chaos every single day,” she said. “That chaos is by design, to make it hard to follow and to push back. More people need to call it out for what it is: hypocrisy and bad policy that’s harming Americans.”
Her message was clear: governing shouldn’t be about scoring political points, but rather about results. “How we win moving forward,” Hobbs said, “is by focusing on the issues and bringing whoever’s willing to the table to solve them.”
In an age when extremism dominates the headlines, Katie Hobbs is reminding America that democracy still works when leaders put people first.
To learn more about Governor Hobbs’s re-election campaign, visit KatieHobbs.org.
Remember to add the MeidasTouch Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
