By Staff Reporter |

The Arizona Republican Party is questioning why Attorney General Kris Mayes hasn’t taken action against her fellow Democrat, Gov. Katie Hobbs, over an alleged pay-to-play arrangement. 

Mayes is investigating Hobbs over allegations that she awarded a unique rate increase by the Department of Children Services (DCS) to Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home operator, following sizable donations to her gubernatorial campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party. Mayes asked to interview Hobbs this week, but it appears the governor may decline that invitation. 

Republican support for Mayes investigating Hobbs has been a whiplash; certain lawmakers and state leaders contended it was best for Mayes to recuse herself given their close party ties. 

Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater told the Arizona Republic that Hobbs declined to comment on her decision to sit for an interview. Slater said the lack of evidence proving Hobbs’ knowledge of the rate increase meant there was no proof of her guilt. 

Sunshine Residential Homes donated more than $400,000 to Hobbs and the Arizona Democratic Party. After Hobbs took office, DCS awarded the operator a 30% rate increase. Officials say the details of DCS actions surrounding the rate increase were suspicious: no other group homes received rate increases; other group homes’ rate averages fell below Sunshine Residential Homes; and DCS ended state contracts with 16 group homes. 

In a new statement released on Wednesday, the Arizona Republican Party called on Mayes to keep up the pressure on Hobbs by putting aside any political favoritism. The party also urged the governor to cooperate with investigators. 

The party’s chairman, Sergio Arellano, said Hobbs’ actions were consistent with corruption. 

“Governor Hobbs has spent years lecturing Arizonans about ethics while her own administration was allegedly steering millions in taxpayer dollars to a generous donor,” said Arellano. “The fact that her campaign manager was dining with the contractor’s CEO as the deal was finalized only adds to the stench of a pay-to-play scheme that puts special interests ahead of Arizona’s most vulnerable children in state care. Hobbs owes the people of Arizona full transparency and cooperation with this criminal probe, not more stonewalling and self-serving denials.”

The Republican-led Arizona House launched an independent investigation into the pay-to-play allegations earlier this year. They are working with Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on the investigation; Mayes and Mitchell began investigating nearly two years ago. 

The results of the legislature’s investigation will go to the advisory team created in the aftermath of 2024 investigative reporting that outlined the alleged pay-to-play scheme. The advisory team will coordinate the parallel investigations from Mitchell and Mayes to work out a conclusion on the matter. 

Hobbs derided the legislative investigation in a statement to The Center Square as the “same old partisan games” by “extremist legislators” spreading misinformation. The governor has repeatedly denied any involvement with the DCS decision. 

“I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this investigation which I know will show what reporting has confirmed that I was not involved in the decision and that DCS acted in the best interest of Arizona’s foster children,” said Hobbs in a Tuesday statement.

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