By Matthew Holloway |
Gov. Katie Hobbs has appointed former state elections director Kori Lorick as her next chief of staff. Lorick previously warned county supervisors they could face legal consequences for refusing to certify the 2022 election.
She will replace Chad Campbell, who will leave the administration at the end of November. Lorick currently serves as co-chief legal officer and will assume her new position immediately following Campbell’s departure.
The transition announcement following Hobbs’ reelection did not explain Campbell’s departure or identify his next position.
“Kori is a proven public servant who knows exactly how to navigate complex challenges and deliver real results,” Hobbs said.
Lorick previously worked under Hobbs in the Secretary of State’s Office, helping oversee the 2022 election. Her responsibilities included communications with county officials over ballot-counting procedures and certification deadlines.
In October 2022, Lorick warned Cochise County supervisors against pursuing a full hand-count audit of the general election. Republican Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby supported the proposal, citing public distrust of elections and saying the work could be completed before certification deadlines.
Lorick’s letter said the Secretary of State’s Office agreed with the county attorney and Arizona Legislative Council that the proposed full count was unauthorized. She also raised concerns about human error and the time needed to complete the work, warning that the state could pursue litigation.
Arizona already required a limited hand-count audit to check machine tabulation. The dispute concerned the county’s proposed expansion to a full count.
After the election, Lorick warned Mohave County supervisors that canvassing their results was a nondiscretionary duty. Her communication threatened legal action and potential criminal referrals under A.R.S. § 16-1010.
That statute generally makes knowingly refusing an election-related duty, or knowingly violating election law in an official capacity, a Class 6 felony unless another punishment applies.
Then-Republican secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem cited the communications in his challenge to the 2022 election, alleging improper pressure on county officials. In a ruling dismissing his challenge, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Iyer Julian rejected that argument.
The judge found that communicating statutory canvassing duties and warning of enforcement litigation did not constitute misconduct for purposes of an election contest. The ruling also found that Finchem’s pleading identified no false or fraudulent statements about the applicable law in those communications.
Cochise County’s certification dispute resulted in a court order requiring the county to complete its canvass. Lorick subsequently requested an investigation of Judd and Crosby over their failure to certify by the deadline. Courts also blocked the county’s proposed full hand count.
Judd later pleaded guilty in October 2024 to a Class 3 misdemeanor for failing to perform an election officer’s duty.
Campbell joined the governor’s office in 2023 after the resignation of Hobbs’ first chief of staff, Allie Bones. A former House Democratic leader, Campbell previously served alongside Hobbs in the Legislature and worked at political consulting firm Lumen Strategies.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
