listen to this articleBy July, Arizonans will learn how much money Katie Hobbs has in her campaign coffers and who is donating.
It's all because two Republican senators have authored a bill that would close loopholes in campaign finance laws that previously allowed Hobbs to hide that information. The governor signed it on Monday.
Previously, state law required candidates for office to submit quarterly reports of contributions and expenses beginning the year before the election. This works to ensure that the funds raised and spent by legislators serving two-year terms are fully publicized.
But that means those serving four-year terms, like Hobbs, won't have to file until a year after the election. Sen. TJ Schopf of Coolidge and Rep. Matt Gress of Phoenix said this would allow the governor to avoid disclosure until the report is expected in January 2026.
No more.
According to SB1571, Hobbs and others with four-year terms would be required to file quarterly reports throughout their terms. It includes language that would take effect immediately upon the governor's signature, which the governor did this week, and is asking him to submit it by the next deadline of July 15.
The issue arose after it was revealed in January that Hobbs, who was first elected in 2022, failed to submit a report as required of members of Congress. It was legal at the time.
But in running for governor, Hobbs promised to “bring transparency and accountability to the governor's office.”
What's more, Mr. Hobbs has been actively fundraising since he last filed his report in January 2023, not just for his own re-election, but to woo more Democrats later this year. The purpose is to have them elected by parliament.
On Monday, the day she signed SB1571, her campaign highlighted what she has done to expand access to health care for children, working with nonprofits to cancel $2 billion in medical debt. I sent an email talking about this, and that I had announced plans that have yet to be implemented. To lower the cost of prescription drugs.
“If you are able, please consider making a $10 donation to support my work,” the request reads.
Two days earlier, a request came in to help Donald Trump raise more than $1 million for Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake at his Mar-a-Largo fundraiser. Hobbs hasn't played against Lake. But that didn't stop her from asking for cash for herself.
“It is clear that they are coming after Arizona, and we need to act quickly,” the request states.
Gress said there's no reason voters here should have to wait until 2026 to see how much she's raised, and more importantly, who's writing the checks.
“I believe that every elected official should disclose at some point during their term who they have received donations from,” he said. Gress, who also served as chief financial adviser to Republican Doug Ducey when he was governor, said this information is important to voters and not just in a year when someone is running for re-election.
“I think this has to do with governance as well as operations,” he said. “People need to know if someone is influencing your decisions.”
Shope, who introduced the version in the Senate, said it makes it clear Arizonans want more information.
He cited voter approval of Proposition 211 last year. The law, known as the Voter Right-to-Know Act, expanded existing campaign finance laws to require disclosure of the names of groups trying to influence elections, as well as the names of groups trying to influence elections. . gave the group money in the first place.
Tom Collins, executive director of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, agreed.
“The results of the Prop 211 vote show that given the options, voters want to know more about who is in a position to potentially influence candidates' actions,” he said. .
Part of the reason more immediate reporting is important, especially for Hobbs, is that she doesn't just raise money and sign or veto bills while she's governor.
There's also the fact that the governor isn't waiting until the 2026 campaign to start spending. She has said she plans to use some of this year's money to defeat Republican candidates for Congress.
Republicans control the state Legislature by a 31-29 margin. The Senate has 16 Republicans and 14 Democrats. And this would not only block some of the governor's priorities, but also seek to rein in a program approved in 2022 that would allow parents to use taxpayer funds to pay for private or parochial tuition. This was enough to frustrate the governor's efforts to do so. school.
Mr. Hobbs has even publicly pitched money to potential donors to help change control of Congress.
Under the old law, lawmakers elected to four-year terms in 2022 were not required to submit campaign finance reports in January, although other laws do.
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said $97,536 was raised in all of 2023.
Attorney General Chris Mays reported she received $119,957, and state Treasurer Kimberly Yee disclosed $1,905 in 2023 contributions. Also, State Schools Superintendent Tom Horn said he will not receive any donations in 2023.
