The war of words between State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-LD15) and Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tom Horne (R) continues to escalate amid allegations that Horne is not doing enough to protect Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. The ESA program, more commonly called school vouchers, was enacted in 2011 under Governor Jan Brewer’s administration to provide school choice options for students with disabilities. In 2022, the AZ legislature passed an expansion of ESAs to include all students, a move that proved popular with the voting public but was widely panned by many state teachers and their union.

Since Gov. Doug Ducey signed it into law, the ESA program has faced a barrage of challenges, especially from Arizona’s Democrat Governor, Katie Hobbs. As a result, it’s become a key focus for conservative factions within the state legislature and a point of contention between the Arizona Freedom Caucus (AFC) leadership and SPI Horne. Given the consistent campaign by Hobbs and her administration to limit, if not utterly overturn, the program, the AFC Chair, Sen. Hoffman, has criticized Horne for what the AFC describes as a lack of will to enforce the ESA program vigorously. Horne disagrees, insisting that he’s been integral to the program’s success.

Their disagreement has escalated into what some have described as a “stunning” war of words. In a presser on Monday, March 31, 2025, Hoffman accused Horne of being the “single greatest threat to school choice… to the ESA program,” and “to nearly 100,000 students and their families…” He went even further, stating that he is actively seeking a replacement to challenge Horne for the role.

Hoffman told the assembled group, “Thanks to the legislature and the conservative leadership that we have, Katie Hobbs is unable to make serious, negative, adverse reforms to school choice in this state. However, Tom Horne is the single greatest threat to school choice. Tom Horne is the single greatest threat to the ESA Program. Tom Horne is the single greatest threat to nearly 100,000 students and their families that are utilizing those programs right now. And so I will certainly be looking for a Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate to challenge Tom Horne.”

Horne fired back, denying Hoffman’s allegations in a post on X, writing, “I brought charter schools to Arizona when I served in the legislature in the 90s. I’ve fought to keep ESAs and school choice from an Attorney General and Governor who want it gone. I’m happy to debate you anytime on these issues.”

Horne states that he’s been highly critical of attempts by Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, both outspoken opponents of school vouchers generally and the ESA Program specifically, fighting their attempts to overturn or at least hobble the program. In response to their claims of widespread fraud as a reason to overturn the program, Horne argues that he’s been at the forefront of fighting fraudulent ESA requests.

In January 2025, Horne responded to concerns over fraud by AG Mayes by stating, “Under my leadership, the department has done a full-court press against waste and fraud. I hired both a program auditor and an investigator, which had not been done before. I require that every expenditure be for a valid educational purpose and have been attacked for doing that.”

It’s unclear whether Horne and the Freedom Caucus will come to terms or if Hoffman will make good on his threat to oust Horne. The Arizona Globe will continue to monitor the story and provide updates.