Hoffman Blasts Budget Deal as ‘Epic Cave’ by GOP Leadership

Yesterday, June 26, 2025, Senate President Warren Petersen told the Arizona Globe he was “hopefull” that a budget compromise was imminent. Today, Senator Jake Hoffman is blasting the state GOP leadership’s version of “compromise” as a betrayal of the conservative base and a “perfect example of BIG GOVERNMENT.”

In a blistering statement shared Thursday evening, Hoffman slammed the Hobbs-Petersen-Montenegro budget deal, accusing GOP leadership of abandoning the will of the voters who gave Republicans an expanded majority in 2024.

“Voters gave Republicans an EXPANDED majority in 2024. What did they do with it? Caved to Katie Hobbs — America’s weakest, most pathetic governor,” Hoffman said.

The Arizona Freedom Caucus, of which Hoffman is a founding member, offered a series of amendments aimed at blocking state funds from being used to provide housing, healthcare, or welfare benefits to illegal immigrants. GOP leadership, however, joined Democrats in voting down those proposals.

“Did they ban Katie Hobbs from giving housing, healthcare, or welfare to illegal aliens? Nope. In fact, they voted against the amendments the @AZFreedomCaucus offered to do precisely that,” Hoffman said.

The Queen Creek Republican also blasted the majority’s inaction on election integrity, claiming that efforts to strengthen voter laws were similarly dismissed.

“Did they leverage the expanded majority to do anything meaningful on Election Integrity? Nope. They voted against the Freedom Caucus amendments to ensure real election integrity,” he added.

The budget deal, crafted between Governor Katie Hobbs, Senate President Warren Petersen, and House Speaker Steve Montenegro, aimed to avoid a government shutdown. But to Hoffman and his allies, the compromise represented capitulation.

“What did they do? They caved to Katie Hobbs, Adrian Fontes, and Kris Mayes because they didn’t want to look ‘mean’ and ‘unreasonable’. TOTALLY INSANE.”

Hoffman said Republican leadership can try to “beat their chests” about bipartisanship and compromise, but warned that the grassroots isn’t buying it.

“The People elected a larger Republican Majority so they could fight harder, not so they could simply roll over faster,” he said.

“We’ve watched this play out in the Swamp of Washington D.C. and in swampy state Capitols all around the nation. ‘Compromise’ is just a fancy way of saying the GOP CAVED.”

His reference to “beat their chests” likely refers to Senator Warren Petersen’s strong statement he made on the Senate floor. The Arizona Globe covered that here.

As budget season winds down, the Arizona Freedom Caucus has signaled it’s preparing for a political reckoning — and Hoffman’s message made it clear: this fight isn’t over.