Hobbs chief of staff to leave administration, former state elections director to replace him

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Chief of Staff Chad Campbell announced Thursday that he will resign from the administration at the end of November.

Campbell, a one-time Democratic leader of the Arizona House of Representatives, has been Hobbs’ chief of staff since June 2023, about five months into her tenure as governor. He was hired after Hobbs’ initial chief of staff, Allie Bones, abruptly resigned amid a staff shakeup. 

Hobbs announced she will appoint her chief legal officer, Kori Lorick, as the new chief of staff. 

“Chad has been an invaluable partner throughout my first term in office, and I am deeply grateful for his steady leadership and dedication to public service,” Hobbs said in a statement. “Kori is a proven public servant who knows exactly how to navigate complex challenges and deliver real results. She has the grit and the vision to lead this team, and I am confident in her ability to keep the administration moving forward.”

Lorick worked for Hobbs back when she was secretary of state, as the state elections director. Since Hobbs became governor, Lorick has had several titles within the administration, including co-chief legal officer and deputy chief of staff. 

Lorick, who oversaw Arizona’s 2022 midterm election, was one of the employees at the Secretary of State’s Office that received death threats that the office reported to the FBI ahead of that election. 

“I am honored by Governor Hobbs’ trust and ready to lead this incredibly talented team into our next phase of work,” Lorick said in the statement. “We remain laser-focused on tackling the real issues facing Arizonans, and I look forward to executing the Governor’s vision to lower costs, secure our water future, grow our economy and invest in our public schools.”