Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Thursday he felt Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs needs to stop dodging a head-to-head debate with Republican Kari Lake, saying debating your opponent is "the price of admission."

“Katie Hobbs has got to show up for a debate,” Ducey told KTAR on the “Mike Broomhead Show.” “If you want to be governor of the state, you have to be able to stand and deliver against an opponent. That’s been the price of admission for decades at all levels of our political atmosphere, and she, for whatever reason, refuses to do it. She refuses to get in the arena.”

Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state, also refused a primary debate with fellow Democrat Marco Lopez, but since she was heavily favored in the race, she was able to avoid it without affecting her nomination, according to KTAR. Polls in the governor's race, however, are showing the contest as a toss-up.

Ducey said the debate would be crucial for the state because it could help would-be voters come to the polls, and it could affect independents and those who are on the fence about their preferred candidate. That, he said, was why Hobbs needs to engage with Lake.

“She needs to show up and have the debate and the discussion with her opponent, and I’m looking forward to seeing it,” Ducey said.