Mayes Fills Hobbs Abdication by Addressing Impending SNAP Shutoff

Attorney General Kris Mayes appears to be acting as the de facto governor, becoming the first Arizona official to formally address the looming shutdown of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

As it stands, on November 1, 2025, nearly 900,000 Arizonans are likely to lose their food assistance due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Although other states have already stepped in to reassure their citizens, Arizona has been silent. As reported by the Arizona Globe on October 27, 2025, Governor Katie Hobbs has not held a press conference, issued a statement, or outlined a plan to help families prepare for the lapse.

After days of public pressure, she finally issued a short social-media post blaming the federal government. But so far, her administration has offered no direct guidance to residents who rely on SNAP benefits each month.

By contrast, Attorney General Kris Mayes held a press conference and joined 22 other attorneys general in signing a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, demanding answers on how the USDA intends to proceed after notifying states that November benefits will not be funded.

“Working families, seniors, veterans, and children across Arizona depend on SNAP to survive,” Mayes said. “Any suspension or delay in benefits due to the federal government’s failure to act would be a direct assault on the health and well-being of millions of Americans.”

Her message was unsurprisingly political—blaming both the “GOP-controlled Congress” and “Trump administration” for the crisis—but pundits acknowledge that Mayes at least showed up.

She stated, “In addition to causing health insurance premiums to skyrocket as open enrollment begins, the GOP-controlled Congress and the Trump administration are now risking the health and safety of tens of millions of Americans, including 900,000 Arizonans who rely on SNAP benefits each month.”

While Mayes’s tone was clearly partisan, critics say somebody in Arizona’s government has to lead. Mayes expressed frustration with the federal government, saying she was “deeply concerned” about the harm to children, seniors, and veterans. But her press conference also highlighted the void left by Hobbs’s inaction.

“Arizonans who turn to SNAP to feed their families should not have to fear that their personal information will be swept into Trump’s mass surveillance agenda,” Mayes added, signaling that her office would continue pushing back against federal overreach.

Critics of Mayes note that she is always quick to file lawsuits—often high-profile and politically charged—but seldom offers practical solutions that directly help Arizonans. Still, in this case, she is at least engaging, albeit politically charged, while Governor Hobbs seems detached from the moment.

Capitol reporter Howard Fischer observed that when questioned at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hobbs said Arizona doesn’t “have the capacity to backfill” SNAP benefits. When pressed about why she couldn’t take steps similar to other governors, Hobbs shrugged: “I’m not sure what resources they’re coming up with,” she said. “We don’t have those resources.”

On her personal X page, Hobbs seems to be busy campaigning for re-election. She posted today about her “Arizona First” campaign rally. She said, “We have one year to win and we’re not wasting any time.”

The borrowed America First tagline did not go unnoticed.

An Arizona First Rally?

Where have we heard that before?

It wasn’t enough to steal the governorship, @KatieHobbs.

You had to steal Kari's branding too? https://t.co/os5oBIfuNF pic.twitter.com/HDNVUkj5J1

— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) October 24, 2025