Sejal Govindarao, Author at The Rapid City Post

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Samantha Chow)

Democratic Arizona Gov. Hobbs launches reelection bid as her party aims to build power nationally

October 8, 2025

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has launched her reelection campaign as her party looks to bounce back nationally from sweeping losses in 2024. She is taking a practical rather than confrontational approach to finding a pathway to Democratic victory in the state. She hopes her message of putting Arizonans first and politics aside resonates with voters across the political spectrum. She’ll need that, particularly in a swing state that endorsed Donald Trump in 2024 but chose Joe Biden four years earlier.

FILE - Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., listens before a hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Capitol Hill, March 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Rep. David Schweikert joins Trump-backed candidates in GOP primary for Arizona governor

September 30, 2025

Rep. David Schweikert is joining an already crowded field in the GOP primary for Arizona governor. The race includes two Donald Trump-backed candidates — lobbyist and housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson and House Freedom Caucus member Andy Biggs. Schweikert tells The Associated Press that he’s running in part because he can do more good leading Arizona than trying to work in a dysfunctional Congress. The GOP primary winner will likely face Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the general election. Schweikert’s seat is one of the few that’s highly competitive, raising Democratic hopes of flipping the narrow GOP House majority next year.

FILE - Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., speaks as members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus tell reporters about allegations that the government spies on Americans, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Trump’s call to end mail-in voting creates a dilemma for GOP candidates who benefit from it

September 16, 2025

President Donald Trump has vowed to do away with voting by mail, but some of his Republican allies in battleground Arizona are taking a more cautious approach. The dilemma highlights another challenge they will confront heading into next year’s midterm elections, which historically check the party controlling the White House. Karrin Taylor Robson and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs are seeking to balance their allegiance to Trump with the desire of many Republican voters for the convenience of voting by mail. Biggs has encouraged in-person voting, but still supports mail voting. Taylor Robson has sidestepped the question.

Smoke and fires rises at sunset from the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon as seen from Mather Point near Grand Canyon Village, Ariz., Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Crews struggle to contain wildfire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

July 29, 2025

PHOENIX By SEJAL GOVINDARAOAssociated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Historically dry conditions have combined with gusty winds to make it harder

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs looks out of a helicopter window during her aerial tour of wildfire damage along the Grand Canyon's North Rim, Ariz., Saturday, July 19, 2025. (Joe Rondone/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)

Arizona governor tours wildfire destruction along Grand Canyon’s North Rim

July 20, 2025

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has toured the destruction left by a wildfire along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. Hobbs surveyed what she called devastating damage Saturday. She has called previously for an investigation into the handling of the blaze. The governor has questioned why the National Park Service did not immediately put out the flames during the hottest and driest period of summer. The wildfire was sparked by a lightning strike July 4.

FILE - The roof to Chase Field begins to open prior to an opening-day baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs, March 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Arizona governor approves up to $500M in taxpayer funds to upgrade home of Diamondbacks

June 28, 2025

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed legislation that provides public funding to renovate Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The bill won bipartisan support in both of the state’s GOP-controlled chambers. It uses sales tax revenue from the stadium and nearby buildings to fund up to $500 million for infrastructure upgrades over the next 30 years. The improvements include work on the stadium’s air conditioning and retractable roof. The Diamondbacks say they will contribute $250 million. Several other states have taken up measures in recent years to use taxpayer dollars for sports stadiums.

Arizona’s rural groundwater deal stalls as legislative session nears end

May 28, 2025

Attempts to regulate groundwater in rural Arizona have stalled in the Legislature. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office says negotiators haven’t met since early April. Hobbs backed a proposal to create rural groundwater management areas around the state. Republicans introduced their own proposal. The two sides differ on which water basins could be regulated, conservation limits and the makeup of the local councils that would oversee it all. Hobbs says she’ll take matters into her own hands if the Legislature doesn’t act before it adjourns. Republicans say a separate proposal from the Arizona Department of Water Resources to ease overpumping of a southern Arizona basin is souring talks on the legislative bills.

Sejal Govindarao.