Senator Hoffman: ‘Katie Hobbs’ grotesque partisanship knows no bounds’

By Megan Barth, March 7, 2026 11:05 am

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1439 on Friday, blocking the creation of a specialty license plate honoring the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination last year shocked the nation. 

The bill, sponsored by Republican State Senator Jake Hoffman, would have allowed drivers to purchase the memorial plate for a $25 fee, with $17 directed to Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the organization Kirk founded. 

In her veto letter, Hobbs stated that the proposal inserted “politics into a function of government that should remain non-partisan,” emphasizing her commitment to solutions that “bring people together.” Democrats echoed this sentiment, arguing that state-issued plates are not appropriate for honoring “controversial figures.”

 The veto has ignited fierce backlash from Republicans, who view it as an act of partisan spite. 

Senator Hoffman condemned Hobbs’ decision as “grotesque partisanship,” highlighting Kirk’s status as an Arizona resident and “global civil rights leader” assassinated for defending the First Amendment. State Senator Wendy Rogers pointed out that this marks the first-ever veto of a license plate bill in Arizona, where over 60 specialty plates already exist, and accused Hobbs of “loathing” conservatives. 

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Vetoes Charlie Kirk Memorial License Plate Bill Amid Partisan Backlas – California Globe