Gilbert: Gov. Hobbs Launches Multi-Million Dollar Reelection Ads, Biggs Calls Claims 'Delusional'
Marcus Whitfield
The ad war begins
Governor Katie Hobbs launched her first reelection television ads on Tuesday, kicking off a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign that will run through November.
The ads center on Hobbs' working-class background. Her Republican challenger, Andy Biggs, a congressman from Gilbert, called the ads dishonest.
What the ads say
The campaign released two ads. One in English, titled "Work", and one in Spanish, titled "No Se Rinde".
The English ad highlights Hobbs' time working fast-food jobs as a teen and driving for Uber. It then pivots to her record as governor, claiming she:
- Balanced the budget without raising taxes
- Expanded community college scholarships
- Reduced electricity bills
- Cut red tape to build more affordable housing
The Spanish-language ad focuses on her work as a social worker helping women escape domestic violence and her determination to care for her children.
"From working fast-food jobs and driving for Uber to helping families in need as a social worker, Katie Hobbs understands what Arizona families are going through because she's lived it herself," campaign spokesman Michael Beyer said in a statement.
Where the money is going
Campaign manager Nicole DeMont said in a memo that the governor is preparing for "another tight race" in 2026, even as she enters her reelection bid "in an exceptionally strong position."
The campaign is shifting spending away from traditional television. DeMont noted the campaign is launching a "data-driven digital program across streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify, social media, and Google Search."
Biggs fires back
Drew Sexton, spokesman for Biggs, issued a written statement disputing the governor's claims.
"Hobbs' claims about reducing electricity bills and making it easier to build affordable housing are 'jaw-dropping dishonesty' and 'delusional,'" Sexton said.
Biggs' spokesman said the ads make "out-of-context claims and ridiculous statements designed to mislead Arizona voters."
The RGA joins the fight
The Republican Governors Association also criticized the ads.
"Hobbs' tenure as governor is one defined by incompetence, scandal, and hardship. Arizona families are not better off than they were four years ago," RGA spokesman Kollin Crompton said. "She can run from that record, but she can't hide."
Why it matters
The ad launch signals the start of the general election campaign. The dispute over electricity bills and affordable housing points to two policy areas that will likely dominate the race. Voters in Gilbert and across the state will hear competing claims about whether the governor delivered on those promises.
The budget standoff between Hobbs and Republican lawmakers remains unresolved as of today. Senate President Warren Petersen said on Tuesday that a deal is nearing completion, with the July 1 deadline approaching.