UPDATE: Reason For Brief Arizona Acting Governor Revealed?
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, a Republican, briefly stepped into the role of Acting Governor.
The reason was unknown.
Yee served as Acting Governor until Thursday morning.
“I have been notified that I will be serving as Acting Governor beginning later this evening until mid-morning tomorrow. While I am pleased to step into this role, I will refrain from naming directors to the 13 agencies that currently have vacancies and will not call the Arizona Legislature into session to confirm them,” Yee said in a released statement.
“That being said, I do hope when the Governor returns to Arizona, she will promptly name qualified directors to these important state agencies and remove the legal uncertainty that exists for all of the regulatory actions taken by the agencies. I expect to see a swift resolution to this matter, so we can get back to getting the work done for Arizona taxpayers. The people of Arizona deserve leaders who follow the rule of law,” she added.
I have been notified that I will be serving as Acting Governor beginning later this evening until mid-morning tomorrow. Read my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/sSuiSCebk4
— Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee (@AZTreasurerYee) September 27, 2023
KGUN 9 noted:
Yee is fourth in line on the Arizona succession of gubernatorial power. After governor, the line of succession is secretary of state, attorney general and then state treasurer. The attorney general is out of state until Friday morning.
With the fourth individual in line of succession stepping into the Acting Governor role, rumors swirled about the absence of the state’s top Democrat leaders.
Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D), and Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) all left the state during Joe Biden’s visit to Arizona this week.
“Joe Biden arrived in Arizona last night. Katie Hobbs, Adrian Fontes, & Kris Mayes all arranged to be out of town during his visit, forcing the Republican Treasurer to assume control of our state. Why did our entire illegitimate state government leave town at the same time?” Kari Lake War Room asked.
.@JoeBiden arrived in Arizona last night.@katiehobbs, @Adrian_Fontes, & @krismayes all arranged to be out of town during his visit, forcing the Republican Treasurer to assume control of our state.
Why did our entire illegitimate state government leave town at the same time?
— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) September 28, 2023
“Either something very strange is going on, or every top Dem in the state just fled rather than getting their photo taken w Biden. Not that anyone should expect our local Democrat Operatives w/ Bylines to ask any questions,” said Breaking Battlegrounds co-host Sam Stone.
Either something very strange is going on, or every top Dem in the state just fled rather than getting their photo taken w Biden
Not that anyone should expect our local Democrat Operatives w/ Bylines to ask any questions https://t.co/s2KWuO95Lc
— Sam Stone (@SamThePol) September 28, 2023
Just the News reports:
When Biden arrived in Arizona, he was met on the tarmac as he deplaned from Air Force One by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego (D), as the congressional Democrats from the state were in Washington, D.C., amid the possible government shutdown.
Biden was in Arizona to announce the creation of the John S. McCain III National Library at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus and attend a fundraising event.
Hobbs arrived back in the state in time to attend the announcement of the late senator’s library on Thursday. However, in her press release regarding her speech at the announcement, there is no mention of Biden.
“Today, Governor Katie Hobbs spoke at the announcement of the construction of the John S. McCain Education and Community Center in Tempe,” the press release reads. “It will be housed within Arizona State University as a new multi-purpose facility to provide education, work, and health monitoring programs for underserved communities.
“During the event, Governor Hobbs was joined by members of the McCain family, including Ambassador Cindy McCain,” the release continued. “The State of Arizona was instrumental in securing funding for the Library, leading the application through the federal government’s Capital Projects Fund.”
AWOL: Arizona Democratic leaders departed state during Biden visit, leaving Republican in charge | Just The News https://t.co/eoRIVFnion
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) September 30, 2023
According to the Associated Press, Arizona’s top Democrats traveled to Washington D.C. for meetings.
AP reports:
Slater confirmed Friday that the governor met with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in D.C. on Wednesday.
Hobbs was back Thursday morning and spoke later that day at the Tempe Center for the Arts, where officials announced the construction of a library honoring the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, of Arizona.
On Friday, Hobbs headed to Flagstaff to speak with the state Board of Regents, according to Slater.
Meanwhile Secretary of State Adrian Fontes returned to Arizona on Friday after meeting with U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, of Arizona, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and White House staff regarding the impact of the looming federal government shutdown on election operations, Paul Smith-Leonard, his spokesperson, said Friday.
State Attorney General Kris Mayes was also back in the state Friday after meeting with officials from the Drug Enforcement Agency on efforts to combat the state’s fentanyl crisis, according to spokesperson Richie Taylor.
She also spoke with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials on the proposed merger between grocery chains Albertsons and Kroger and its potential impact to local food suppliers.
CNN also reported that Katie Hobbs attended the announcement for the construction of the McCain library.
Per CNN:
Biden was joined Thursday by McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain, as well as Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and members of the Arizona delegation.
