Happy Wednesday! We hope you, unlike us election sickos, got a good night's rest.

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Today’s newsletter is 993 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Gov. Katie Hobbs defeated Republican Andy Biggs to win a second term, keeping the battleground state's governor's office in Democratic hands, the AP projects.

Why it matters: Hobbs has acted as a check on the Republican-controlled Legislature for the past four years, but with Democrats poised to potentially win both legislative chambers, she and her party could have a tremendous impact.

State of play: As of this morning, Hobbs had nearly 56% of the vote to nearly 43% for Biggs.

• Former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a lifelong Republican-turned-independent, will be Arizona's first lieutenant governor.

What they're saying: "Arizona, thank you for trusting me to serve you for four more years," Hobbs said in a post on X.

• Kentucky governor and Democratic Governors Association chair Andy Beshear, whose group spent $23 million supporting Hobbs' campaign, congratulated her on the win.
• "Governor Hobbs is the only social worker ever elected governor, and she has never forgotten what it's like to come from a working-class family, and it's clear in how she fights for Arizonans every day."

Zoom out: Hobbs' win capped a huge night for Democrats in Arizona's statewide offices.

In other statewide races:

Secretary of state: In his bid for a second term, Democrat Adrian Fontes defeated state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, per the AP, and holds an 11-point lead as of this morning.

Attorney general: Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes won a second term, the AP projects, beating Republican challenger Warren Petersen, the Arizona Senate president, with 55% of the vote so far.

Superintendent of public instruction: Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz leads Republican Kimberly Yee with 53% of the vote as of this morning.

State treasurer: Democrat Nick Mansour leads Republican Elijah Norton by 7 points as of this morning.

Hobbs wins

Democrats are leading a handful of competitive legislative races, and if that holds, they're in line to take control of the Legislature for the first time since the 1960s.

Why it matters: Gov. Hobbs has spent the past four years dealing with a hostile Republican Legislature. If Democrats control the House and Senate, they'll be able to advance their agenda.

State of play: Democrats are leading in 10 House seats and seven Senate seats currently held by Republicans, including in some heavily GOP areas that weren't viewed as remotely competitive.

• They need a net gain of four House seats and three Senate seats to win the chambers.

Yes, but: The results are far from final, and there a large number of ballots left to count.

What they're saying: House minority leader Oscar De Los Santos (D-Phoenix) told the crowd at the Arizona Democratic Party's election night party that they weren't calling any individual races, but, "We are thrilled to announce that there will be a Democratic trifecta in 2027."

• "Arizona has a new frontier. We have a Democratic Legislature," Senate minority leader Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson) said.

The other side: Outgoing Senate President Warren Petersen, the Republican nominee for attorney general, conceded that Republicans were on track to lose statewide races, "But we really cannot lose the legislature. ... We lose the legislature, we will be California in six months."

As of 5am this morning, Democrat Amish Shah held a 7-point lead over Republican Jay Feely in the race for Arizona's highly competitive 1st Congressional District, putting him on track to flip the seat after years of GOP control.

Why it matters: A Shah victory in one of the country's most closely watched congressional races would expand the new Democratic majority in the House.

Zoom out: Democrat JoAnna Mendoza has an 8-point lead over incumbent Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani in the Southern Arizona-based 6th Congressional District.

• Meanwhile, former Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez is neck-and-neck with GOP Rep. Eli Crane in CD2's rematch from 2024.

Despite the early rough showing for GOP candidates, the picture is a bit rosier for several propositions referred to the ballot by the GOP-led legislature.

• Five propositions had majority support as of 5am this morning, and with future ballot drops expecting to come from more conservative voters, looked likely to ultimately pass.

Those five would:

• Limit grocery taxes
• Declare drug cartels to be terrorist organizations
• Bar transgender kids from using school bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identities
• Force cities to obtain voter approval before installing speed ticket cameras
• Bar road usage taxes

Yes, but: "No" votes were outnumbering "yes" votes on measures to ban DEI, require ID to cast a ballot (rather than just to register) and restrict how school districts apportion their budgets.

City Council races

Incumbent Phoenix councilmembers Kevin Robinson (District 6) and Kesha Hodge Washington (District 8) held comfortable leads, but the council races in Districts 2 and 4 could be headed for March runoffs.

• Of the combined 11 candidates in those two races, only District 4 hopeful Ed Hermes has what appears to be a sufficiently comfortable lead to advance to the runoff.
• In Scottsdale, only 1.5 percentage points separates the three candidates vying for two council seats.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Diamondbacks winning their lone World Series on a walk-off single from Luis Gonzalez off vaunted Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

• Gonzo probably hasn't bought a drink in Arizona since.
• Less happily, the Mercury are the only local pro sports team to have claimed a title in the past quarter-century.

⚾️ Jeremy met Luis Gonzalez at a Tucson bar before Spring Training started the season after the World Series win. It was pretty awesome.

📺 Zach is thrilled that "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" is back with a new season.

This newsletter was edited by Jodie Lau.