Katie Hobbs won't comment on conviction of Democrat Nicholas Gonzales

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs would not say whether she supports a Democratic candidate running for the Legislature whose false report to law enforcement and long-running parental battle have become part of the campaign.

Nicholas Gonzales, a Democrat from Chandler, is running for the state House of Representatives in one of eight competitive districts that the Democratic governor has prioritized in an attempt to overturn Republican majorities. Gonzales’ opposition has been divided, and The Arizona Republic confirmed last week that Gonzales had been convicted of misdemeanor false reporting during a lengthy battle with his ex-partner over the parenting of their son.

When asked Oct. 23 if she supported Gonzales and would encourage Arizonans to vote for him, Hobbs talked about her broader work to elect Democrats to the Legislature. His long-stated goal is crucial to securing policy victories over the next two years of his term.

“As you know, I support the election of government majorities in the Legislative Assembly,” she said. “Right now, the agenda is controlled by insurrectionists and indicted fake voters, and Arizonans deserve better than that.”

Asked again about Gonzales, Hobbs said: “Look, I haven’t endorsed any candidate. I’m working to get legislative majorities, I’ve been clear about that and I’m doing everything I can to win these elections in november.”

The comments echo those of former Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, who faced backlash in 2022 for his support of an ultra-conservative state senator who spoke at a nationalist conference white. Ducey, whose political committee spent $500,000 to elect Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers in 2020, spoke of the need for governing majorities and added that Rogers was “even better than her opponent,” a Democrat.

Hobbs pledged at least $500,000 to bring the Legislature under Democratic control this year, although it’s unclear whether any of that directly benefited Gonzales’ campaign. She also attended a series of events in competitive legislative districts over the past two weeks in hopes of energizing volunteers and getting voters out to vote.

That tour included an Oct. 13 stop in Chandler, Legislative District 13, where Gonzales is listed on the ballot. Hobbs spoke in general terms about his accomplishments as governor and his dedication to flipping the Legislature, thanking candidates for running but not naming Gonzales individually.

In his own remarks that day, Gonzales briefly thanked the governor for his presence and support.

Gonzales previously said in a statement that he was “saddened that this difficult time in my family’s life was being used to attempt to discredit my campaign,” and blamed the Republican Party which “has no standards or boundaries.” The GOP hired an opposition researcher to dig up the court record.

Gonzales did not respond to messages seeking comment for this story.

Contact reporter Stacey Barchenger at [email protected] or 480-416-5669.

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