According to NBC News’ predictions on Monday evening, Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs won the contest for governor of Arizona.
The Republican candidate Kari Lake, a former television news presenter who rose to prominence as a strong opponent of the validity of the results of the 2020 presidential election, lost to Hobbs, the secretary of state for Arizona.

Hobbs received 50.4% of the vote, compared to Lake’s 49.6%, with 97% of the projected votes counted.
Hobbs ran a quiet campaign against Lake and declined to engage in a debate with her, claiming that she didn’t want to give the GOP contender the chance to propagate untruths. Lake, according to her, was “just concerned in making a spectacle.”

For not engaging in debate, Hobbs was branded a “coward” by Lake. After it became apparent that she would win, Hobbs wrote in a tweet, “Democracy is worth the wait.” “I’m grateful, Arizona. I feel incredibly pleased and proud to serve as your next governor.
Arizona was a significant presidential election battleground state in 2020. Former President Donald Trump, who supported Lake’s campaign, was defeated by President Joe Biden in both the state and national elections.
The electoral process in Arizona was defended by Hobbs against attempts by Trump and his allies to have the results there overturned.

In a recent interview with CNN, Lake vehemently refrained from committing to accepting the outcome of the governor election if she lost.

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming urged Arizonans not to support Lake in a television ad that cost Cheney’s political action group $500,000 and was funded by Cheney’s scathing criticism of Trump, for which she has become a pariah among many Republicans.
Adding a message stating that her campaign staff anticipated the advertisement to “add another 10 points to our lead,” Lake tweeted “Thank you, @Liz Cheney,” on October 28.
You’re welcome, @KariLake, was Cheney’s reply to Lake’s tweet on Monday night.

“I want to thank the voters for entrusting me with this enormous responsibility,” Hobbs said in a statement on Monday. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’ll do everything in my ability to make you proud.

Even in this time of division, she said, “I believe there is so much more that unites us. For the Arizonans who did not vote for me, I will work just as hard for you.”