Politics
Hobbs Names Kori Lorick Chief of Staff as Democrats Prepare to Take Legislature
Gov. Katie Hobbs has promoted Kori Lorick, a former state elections director who helped run the 2022 election, to chief of staff, replacing Chad Campbell as Democrats prepare to control the Legislature in January.
PHOENIX â Gov. Katie Hobbs has named Kori Lorick, a former state elections director who helped administer the 2022 election, as her new chief of staff, her office announced Thursday. Lorick replaces Chad Campbell, who has held the post since June 2023 and will remain through the end of the month.
The transition comes at a pivotal moment for the governor. Hobbs won reelection in November's midterm election, defeating Andy Biggs by roughly 13 percentage points, and Democrats are set to take control of the Legislature in January â a shift that will reshape how the governor's office negotiates budgets, water policy and school funding.
Lorick has served as Hobbs' co-chief legal officer. Before that, she was the state elections director while Hobbs was secretary of state, overseeing the 2022 election. In her new role, she will manage the governor's staff and help carry out Hobbs' agenda.
"I am honored by Gov. Hobbs' trust and ready to lead this incredibly talented team into our next phase of work," Lorick said in a statement. "We remain laser-focused on tackling the real issues facing Arizonans, and I look forward to executing the Governor's vision to lower costs, secure our water future, grow our economy and invest in our public schools."
Hobbs praised Lorick as a seasoned public servant. "Kori is a proven public servant who knows exactly how to navigate complex challenges and deliver real results," the governor said. "She has the grit and the vision to lead this team, and I am confident in her ability to keep the administration moving forward."
Campbell, who previously represented the same legislative district as Hobbs, called his tenure the honor of his career. "I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and I leave knowing the Governor's office is in exceptional hands with Kori," he said.
Hobbs thanked Campbell for his service, saying he had been "an invaluable partner throughout my first term in office" and praising his "steady leadership and dedication to public service."
The appointment places a former top elections official at the center of the governor's operation as Arizona prepares for a new legislative session and continued scrutiny of its election systems. Lorick's background running the 2022 election â a contest that drew national attention and repeated false claims of fraud â could prove valuable as the administration navigates debates over voting policy and public trust in elections.
Lorick takes over when Campbell departs at the end of November.