Politics
Hobbs Taps Elections Chief Kori Lorick as New Chief of Staff
Gov. Katie Hobbs has named Kori Lorick, her co-chief legal officer and former state elections director, to replace Chad Campbell as chief of staff after Campbell steps down at the end of the month. The transition comes days after Hobbs won reelection and as her office presses priorities on water, affordability, border security and public education.
PHOENIX â Gov. Katie Hobbs will hand the reins of her office to Kori Lorick, naming her current co-chief legal officer as the next chief of staff to succeed Chad Campbell, who is leaving the administration at the end of this month.
The governor's office announced the transition Thursday, saying Lorick will take over immediately after Campbell departs. The move, the office said, is meant to ensure a seamless handoff as the administration continues to focus on Arizona's water security, affordability, border security and public education.
Lorick is a familiar figure in Arizona elections and state government. She most recently served as co-chief legal officer for the governor's office. Before that, she worked under Hobbs at the Secretary of State's office as state elections director, helping oversee the 2022 election cycle â a period when Arizona's election administration drew intense national scrutiny.
"I am honored by Governor Hobbs' trust and ready to lead this incredibly talented team into our next phase of work," Lorick said in a written 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 both her outgoing and incoming aides. "Chad has been an invaluable partner throughout my first term in office, and I am deeply grateful for his steady leadership and dedication to public service," the governor said. "Kori is a proven public servant who knows exactly how to navigate complex challenges and deliver real results. 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, a former House Democratic leader who once represented the same legislative district as Hobbs, has held the chief of staff job for roughly three and a half years. He was hired in May 2023, less than a week after Hobbs' previous chief of staff, Allie Bones, resigned. Before joining the governor's office, Campbell worked at Lumen Strategies, a political consulting firm.
In a statement, Campbell called the role "the absolute honor of my 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.
The announcement did not say why Campbell is leaving or what he plans to do next. It came just days after Hobbs won reelection, with Lt. Gov.-elect Giles outlining the administration's priorities for the coming term.
The leadership change puts a former top elections official at the center of the governor's office at a time when trust in election administration and the integrity of state institutions remains a live concern for many Arizonans. Lorick's background running the state's elections apparatus â and her more recent work handling legal strategy for the governor â positions her to manage both the policy and political demands of the office as Hobbs begins a second term.