State Treasurer Kimberly Yee introduced her candidacy for governor in 2022, making her the primary Republican of notice to affix the large open race to be Arizona’s chief govt.
In her announcement video on Monday morning, Yee touted her household’s background as immigrants and small enterprise homeowners, embraced former President Donald Trump’s financial and border insurance policies, and warned of “socialist” insurance policies that she mentioned would destroy Arizona’s lifestyle.
“My household got here right here and opened a grocery retailer within the Nineteen Thirties. However in the present day, alternatives like theirs are beneath assault,” Yee mentioned. “I’m working for governor to place Arizona first, to make sure our youngsters have the identical alternatives and freedoms as my household discovered on this nice nation.”
Yee mentioned that work begins on the U.S.-Mexico border, citing the continued inflow of Mexican and Central American migrants into the nation.
“Washington is solely not going to guard Arizona. Refusing to implement the legislation. Opening our state to drug cartels, violence and human traffickers. Placing partisan video games over security and safety. As your subsequent governor I’ll proceed President Trump’s battle to safe our southern border,” Yee mentioned.
Yee mentioned Arizona can also’t take its eyes off one other border, that with California. The one-time aide to former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger mentioned she’s seen firsthand what “socialist” insurance policies have finished to that state and others, saying she’ll promote alternative over handouts.
“As a small enterprise proprietor raised by small enterprise homeowners, I do know the significance of doing enterprise the appropriate manner. President Trump’s America First agenda had our financial system booming like by no means earlier than. However now, our lifestyle is beneath assault by the corrupt press, reckless company leaders and politicians who put socialist beliefs over individuals, our freedom of speech and our elections,” Yee mentioned in her video.
Yee has by no means weighed in on the false allegations and conspiracy theories claiming the 2020 election was rigged in opposition to Trump, and didn’t take a public place concerning the makes an attempt by Trump and Republican allies in Congress to problem certification of Joe Biden’s election as president. She and her marketing campaign didn’t reply to questions from the Arizona Mirror concerning the problem on Monday. Yee is the highest-ranking Republican in state authorities to not take a place on the legitimacy of the election.
In 2018, Yee grew to become the primary Asian-American to be elected to statewide workplace in Arizona, in addition to the primary Chinese language-American Republican lady elected to statewide workplace in U.S. historical past, when she was elected state treasurer. She served within the legislature from 2010 till 2018. Previous to her appointment to the Arizona Home of Representatives — she was subsequently elected to the Home and Senate in her personal proper 4 instances — Yee was an aide to former state Treasurer Dean Martin. She and her husband, who’s a dentist, personal a dental workplace in Litchfield Park.
Yee’s household came to the United States from China across the flip of the twentieth century. Her maternal grandfather ran a grocery retailer in Phoenix, and her maternal grandfather ran a hand laundry in Pittsburgh.
As treasurer, Yee has stored a comparatively low profile. Shortly after taking workplace in 2019, Yee championed legislation requiring highschool college students to take a course in economics, together with monetary literacy and private monetary administration. Final yr, she was a vocal opponent of Proposition 208, a poll proposition to lift revenue taxes on people who earn greater than $250,000 per yr, and appeared in tv adverts urging voters to reject the measure, which handed within the November election.
Gov. Doug Ducey is termed out of workplace subsequent yr, leaving a large open race for governor. Yee is the primary candidate in what might be a crowded GOP main.
Former Congressman Matt Salmon, presently the vp for presidency affairs at Arizona State College, and Karrin Taylor Robson, a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, are anticipated to run. Legal professional Normal Mark Brnovich can be extensively considered as a possible contender, although he’s additionally reported to be leaning toward a run for U.S. Senate as a substitute.
On the Democratic aspect, Marco Lopez, a former Nogales mayor and director of the Arizona Division of Commerce beneath former Gov. Janet Napolitano, announced his candidacy in March, and Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is extensively anticipated to run as effectively.
