07/09/2026
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Katie Hobbs is a highly skilled negotiator. During the past three and a half years (from January 2023 to July 2026), her political leadership and the bipartisan agreements reached on the state budget have prevented government shutdowns and ensured continued funding for essential programs.
Bipartisan State Budget Agreements: Stability and Government Continuity in Arizona
Governor Katie Hobbs' administration has pursued a strategy of negotiation with the Arizona Legislature, which is controlled by a Republican majority, to reach bipartisan agreements on the state budget. In a political environment marked by significant partisan divisions, approving budgets through consensus has been one of the primary mechanisms for ensuring the continuity of state government operations and preventing disruptions to essential public services.
Developing the state budgets has required extensive negotiations between the executive branch and legislative leaders from both political parties. Although political differences at times placed the state at risk of a partial government shutdown, the administration successfully reached agreements that allowed balanced budgets to be approved before the legal deadlines. These agreements demonstrate a shared commitment to prioritizing institutional stability over partisan disagreements.
One of the most significant outcomes of these agreements has been the preservation of funding for programs considered essential to Arizona residents. The approved budgets have maintained funding for key priorities such as public safety, education, healthcare through state programs, services for individuals with disabilities, childcare, veterans' services, and a variety of social programs that benefit communities across Arizona. In addition, the budgets have included salary increases for state law enforcement officers and firefighters, as well as investments in infrastructure, economic development, and water security.
The budget process has also underscored the importance of political dialogue. On several occasions, Governor Hobbs rejected budget proposals that she believed did not adequately protect essential public services, encouraging additional rounds of negotiations until bipartisan consensus was achieved with the support of both Democratic and Republican legislators. This process helped prevent a state government shutdown while ensuring the uninterrupted operation of public agencies and the continued delivery of services to millions of Arizona residents.
Overall, the policy of pursuing bipartisan budget agreements has become one of the defining achievements of the current state administration. Despite ideological differences between the executive branch and the Legislature, the willingness to negotiate has helped maintain Arizona's fiscal stability, protect priority programs that serve the public, and ensure the continuous operation of state institutions, strengthening public confidence in government and Arizona's ability to meet the needs of its residents.
We want her to continue serving Arizona. We should support her.
