Gov. Hobbs and Rep. Biggs Clash Over Leadership Experience and Legislative Record

On Tuesday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and Representative Andy Biggs got into a heated argument about legislative efficiency and executive leadership, underscoring the significant political differences that still influence the state's governance. 

The dispute began when Andy Biggs, speaking on the Arizona Morning News podcast, criticized Katie Hobbs' extensive use of gubernatorial vetoes and claimed that he is more knowledgeable about the workings of the state government.

"By the way, those 200 and some odd vetoes that Governor Hobbs has done. We're going to be going through those bills and pulling out some pretty impressive bills and put together an agenda that we can move on in January 2027," Biggs stated, referencing potential future legislative priorities.

Biggs went further, describing his experience as former Senate President gave him unique insight into state operations. 

"As the Senate President, I know how it works. That's really different than probably even the current governor. I know how it works," he said, directly challenging Hobbs' executive capabilities.

Governor Hobbs fired back during a Tuesday interview with KTAR's Outspoken program, defending her record while questioning Biggs' legislative history, particularly on healthcare issues.

"I didn't come here to veto bills. I came here to get stuff done, to solve challenges we're facing," Hobbs responded. "I was able to sign a lot of legislation this year that addresses big challenges we're facing as a state and proven time and again what we can get done when we're willing to sit down and work together."

However, Hobbs acknowledged her role as a legislative check when necessary, stating she would continue to serve "as a backstop" against legislation that "attacks our freedoms."

The governor reacted strongly to accusations of obstruction, noting that "Republicans who might want to paint me as obstructionist continue to send the same bills. I've vetoed multiple bills multiple times."

Hobbs then turned the tables on Biggs, highlighting their opposing positions on Medicaid expansion, a key policy difference that underscores broader ideological divisions.

"Being the senate president is very different than being the governor, than being the executive," Hobbs said. "I am really happy to put my record of getting things done for Arizonans against his when he was the Senate president."

She specifically criticized Biggs for opposing Medicaid expansion during his state tenure and later voting in Congress to strip healthcare coverage. 

"He stood in the way and tried to block Medicaid expansion when we did that, which is still the proudest thing I've ever voted for as a legislator," Hobbs said, explaining the program provided healthcare to hundreds of thousands of Arizonans.

The governor challenged Biggs to explain how he would address potential healthcare access issues as governor, particularly regarding rural hospitals and communities that could lose coverage under federal cuts he supported.

"I wanna know how he, as governor, would address the needs that we're gonna face as a state because of those cuts to Medicaid, those rural hospitals that are gonna close and communities across the state that won't have access to healthcare—tell me how he does that job," Hobbs demanded.