Staffers Flee Katie Hobbs campaign (AZ-GOV)

[brooklynite]

Arizona Agenda


In the past five months, two-thirds of Democrat Katie Hobbs’ gubernatorial campaign staff have left, and several describe the campaign as an emotionally abusive atmosphere that got so bad, they were forced to upend their lives and plans mid-election and seek employment elsewhere.

The problem isn’t Hobbs herself, the former staffers told us. Instead, it was created by a new campaign manager who was brought in to turn the campaign around following a cycle of poor fundraising and bruising media coverage over Talonya Adams, a Black woman who Hobbs fired from the Senate after she raised issues of pay equity. Adams has won two racial discrimination judgements against the state over her treatment as a member of staff for Senate Democrats when Hobbs was the caucus leader.

...snip...

Since DeMont was hired in March, eight people have left the campaign out of a total of 12 staffers.

We spoke to half of those who left. They all told similar stories about a campaign manager who continuously told them they weren’t working hard enough, or they weren’t cut out for the job, or they weren’t going to make it in this business.

Those who spoke with us did so on background, some despite signing non-disclosure agreements that bar them from speaking to the press about their experience. They said the stakes are too high, and the problems too great, to stay silent. By coming forward, they are risking their careers, not to mention legal consequences, to speak against a candidate they formerly believed in and mostly still like on a personal and policy level.

[ColinC]

1. Well that sucks :/

[quaint]

2. Wow. Bummer city.

I wonder what Katie Hobbs plan is.

[Marcus IM]

3. I once had to leave a great job after 16 years because a similar experience.

Created so much stress that I could not take it. Then, the person who made life miserable set about badmouthing me within the technical professional community (and possible employers for me) causing even more stress. Was the kindling the ended my 32 year marriage. This story of workplace abuse hits home for me. Inexcusable.

[nycbos]

4. I have worked on campaigns in six states.

Organizers are overworked, under appreciated, and under paid.

[FakeNoose]

5. I remember a few years ago, there was bad PR about Amy Klobuchar

I'm sure a lot of it was unfair gossip, and stabs-in-the-back from former employees.
But Amy survived it, and she's back in good graces with the media now.

For some reason the media are all willing to pile-on when it's a woman. Especially a smart, liberal woman.
Why is that?

I've learned to hold back and wait until the full story comes out. It's never as bad as they make it sound.

[brooklynite]

7. This isn't the media "piling on"

And the story is clear that its not about Hobbs herself. This is a political blog reporting on campaign matters.

[FakeNoose]

9. OK

I'm making the point that she'll probably survive this if she is smart and savvy.
Amy did, and hers was a lot worse.

[Habibi]

8. I was just thinking the same, about Klobuchar. nt

[2naSalit]

10. Same here.

[brooklynite]

11. The big difference...

…was that the Klobuchar story was about her reputation in the Senate. The Hobbs story is about the management of her campaign, which could potentially be at risk if it’s not being well run.

[msongs]

6. is this the dems best chance candidate? nt