Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill on Wednesday repealing Arizona’s Cesar Chavez holiday.
Lawmakers introduced the bill in March after multiple women accused the late labor rights leader of sexual abuse.
Several cities and states moved rapidly to strip Chavez’s name from holidays, buildings, schools and other honors.
The bill passed out of the state Legislature with strong bipartisan support, but Democrats who voted for the bill said they were disappointed that Republicans wouldn’t consider renaming the holiday after the farmworkers movement.
Hobbs said in a statement that the allegations against Chavez are deeply troubling and her thoughts are with the victims.
She also wrote that she’s working on other ways to honor farmworkers and their contributions to the state.
“I am incredibly grateful for our hardworking farmworkers. Their resilience is evident in the lettuce fields of Yuma and the orange-picking farms of Mesa,” Hobbs wrote. “Arizona’s farmworkers are the backbone of our state’s economy. I remain committed to supporting them and ensuring their contributions are recognized with dignity and respect.”
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Conservative political activists working with Turning Point Action posted fake images on social media claiming a group of Democrats, including a progressive state lawmaker, are supporting Republican Andy Biggs in the state’s race for governor. -
Arizona’s Mark Kelly spent Labor Day in New Hampshire, further fueling speculation that the Democratic senator could run for president in 2028. -
Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs, the Democrat and Republican nominees for governor, have wildly different plans for Arizona’s water future. That means the choice voters make this November will point the state in one of two approaches when it comes to managing the state’s water supply: conservation or augmentation. -
Republican state lawmakers want the state’s water agency to keep them apprised of all Colorado River negotiations, indicating that the governor is getting more updates than them. -
Leaders with the Central Arizona Project opened the door to potential lawsuits over the federal management of Colorado River water.
