Katie Hobbs elected Arizona’s 5th female governor, defeating election denier Kari Lake

Katie Hobbs, Arizona’s Democratic election chief who built a national profile by standing up to false claims about the 2020 presidential election, has won the state’s race for governor.

The Associated Press, NBC News and CNN called the race for Hobbs shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, following a nail-biter week of election returns that highlighted the competitiveness of politics in the state.

"Democracy is worth the wait," Hobbs posted on social media before issuing a statement thanking her family, volunteers and staff for their work.

"This was not just about an election — it was about moving this state forward and facing the challenges of our generation," the statement read, ending: "Let's get to work."

Late-in-the-race polling showed her Republican opponent Kari Lake, the former television news anchor, with the momentum as Nov. 8 neared. Instead, voters offered a stunning rebuke of Lake, who was one of the nation’s most prominent election deniers.

With Hobbs’ win, Arizonans followed voters in other battleground states who rejected gubernatorial candidates who pushed false claims about election results.