Staff Reports
Katie Hobbs, the Democratic Governor of Arizona, recently reached across the aisle to the incoming Trump administration, signaling a willingness to cooperate—as long as it doesn’t mean sacrificing the well-being of her constituents. Apparently, Hobbs believes that mass deportation plans could be a bit much for Arizona, given Trump’s ambitious agenda to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. However, she’s still eager to chat about what the state needs, especially regarding that pesky border security issue.
During her tour of Nogales, a town that could easily serve as a poster child for the border crisis, Hobbs expressed her determination to protect Arizona from actions that she deems harmful. According to her, diverting resources from real border security in favor of ideological pursuits is a big no-no. If only there were a magic wand to solve all the problems at the border without upsetting anyone—how delightful that would be. But in real life, Hobbs seems ready to play nice as long as no more communities are affected by the administration’s policies.
Hobbs is still waiting for specifics on what Trump plans to do, which raises an eyebrow. With tens of millions of people potentially on the chopping block due to his mass deportation pledge, it might be prudent for Hobbs to strategize a bit harder than just waiting and seeing. Her administration, after all, has to deal with the fallout, which could include a lot of very unhappy Arizonans if they aren’t careful.
Arizona Gov. Hobbs says she is cautiously prepared to work with Trump on the border https://t.co/CLevwRBB9O
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 20, 2024
On a more positive note, Hobbs is bragging about the state’s anti-fentanyl task force, which has reportedly seized millions of pills and tons of other life-wrecking drugs from the streets. It seems she’s trying to score a few bipartisan points by insisting that this issue isn’t political. When it comes to border security and drugs overrunning communities, she insists this is an American issue—though many might question how that perspective fits into her party’s typical rhetoric.
The irony cannot be overlooked. While Hobbs professes her commitment to finding common ground with the Trump presidency, she knows she’s balancing on a tightrope. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how much traction any of this cooperation will gain, particularly with a Republican administration likely carving a very different path than the one she’s used to. One can only hope that either side’s policies will lead to a safer Arizona; otherwise, the future could look murky for Arizonans no matter who is in charge.
