Where is Katie Hobbs? Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee steps in as acting governor for a day
PHEONIX, ARIZONA: In light of Gov Katie Hobbs' unexpected disappearance, the Arizona treasurer stated on Wednesday, September 26, night that she will take over as acting governor starting later Thursday evening and continuing until mid-morning Friday, September 29.
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee announced her brief term as acting governor in a news release on X, writing that she is "pleased to step in this role."
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
Yee did not address the governor's absence in her press release and did not immediately respond to a request for clarification. Additionally, Hobbs did not immediately respond to any request for comment, per Fox News Digital.
🚨#BREAKING: At this time Katie Hobbs is no longer the Governor of Arizona. Republican Kimberly Yee the state treasurer is currently the Acting Governor. The reason why is currently unknown at this time pic.twitter.com/CSHXMDwnp3
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 28, 2023
Gov Katie Hobbs trolled for her sudden disappearance
Social media users took to X to troll and make their assumptions about Gov Hobbs' abrupt one-day disappearance.
Online news outlet RawsAlerts posted on X claiming that Hobbs was in Washington, "Looks like Katie Hobbs was in Washington DC she should be back in Arizona tomorrow according to the statement but that's just my guess".
"Sorry, Raws, but I invited Katie Hobbs because she is flying out to see me, and we are going to make sandcastles at the sunny beach in Florida," mocked one X user.
A second X user noted, "She never should have been in the first place. She stole her election from Kari Lake"
"I think Katie Hobbs is converting to republican," quipped another X user.
One more commented, "Shes probably getting a simple medical procedure with a anesthesia".
Another X user went ahead a level and wrote: "She married a cartel member and moved to Mexico?"
"Because she was caught sleeping with the CARTEL," joked another one.
🚨#UPDATE: Looks like Katie Hobbs was in Washington DC she should be back in Arizona tomorrow according to the statement but that's just my guess pic.twitter.com/2Bu93RbS07
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 28, 2023
Sorry, Raws, but I invited Katie Hobbs because she is flying out to see me, and we are going to make sandcastles at the sunny beach in Florida 😂
— Patriot dude 🇺🇸 (@PatriotsChasers) September 28, 2023
She never should have been in the first place. She stole her election from Kari Lake
— RareImagery 🇺🇸 (@RareImagery) September 28, 2023
Shes probably getting a simple medical procedure with a anesthesia
— Floridagrouperking (@Flagrouperking) September 28, 2023
Katie Hobbs withdraws names for agency directors to avoid Senate confirmation
Recently, Governor Hobbs withdrew 13 pending cabinet nominations from Senate consideration and staffed them with "executive deputy directors" who would continue to run their respective organizations.
In her words, Senate President Warren Petersen and the committee he established to review her choices have created a "political circus" that has prolonged the confirmation process and put some nominees under close scrutiny, per Axios.
Hobbs dubbed it "an abuse of the confirmation process" and charged Petersen with developing a procedure "designed to slow walk nominees and create a political circus that is beneath the dignity of the Arizona State Senate."
On the other hand, regardless of the title the governor provides them, Petersen asserted that Hobbs is attempting to thwart the legitimate confirmation process and that her agency's directors can only hold office for a year without Senate approval.