The Gaggle: Deja vu? 2 Democratic governors navigate GOP majorities 20-plus years apart

Amanda Luberto, Arizona Republic
Updated ·2 min read
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Democrat Janet Napolitano was Arizona governor from 2003 to 2009. Democrat Katie Hobbs became governor of the state on Jan. 2, 2023.
Democrat Janet Napolitano was Arizona governor from 2003 to 2009. Democrat Katie Hobbs became governor of the state on Jan. 2, 2023.
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When Katie Hobbs won the governor’s race in 2022, she became the first Democrat in 14 years to hold the seat. It also made her the first governor in 14 years to have to deal with a Legislature controlled by the opposite party.

As she marks her 100th day in office this week, her achievements and pushbacks are equally noteworthy.

At the time of recording, the governor had vetoed 38 bills, and it's expected more vetoes are to come.

Hobbs is in familiar company. Nearly two decades ago, when Democrat Janet Napolitano arrived on the Ninth Floor, she was met with similar opposition.

Gov. Janet Napolitano waves to the chamber after the State of the State at the Capitol Monday, Jan. 9, 2006.
Gov. Janet Napolitano waves to the chamber after the State of the State at the Capitol Monday, Jan. 9, 2006.

When Napolitano won the governor's race in 2002, it had been a dozen years since a Democrat had been in the Arizona governor’s seat. She tangled with a Republican Legislature that wasn’t willing to embrace her agenda, leading to what became a record-setting number of vetoes from an Arizona governor, a record  that Hobbs seems intent on shattering.

This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl and guest host Stacey Barchenger, are joined by Dennis Burke, Napolitano's former co-chief of staff. He examined the challenges of presiding over a divided government and how to navigate it.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Gaggle: Hobbs navigates GOP majorities in AZ in echoes of Napolitano era