Criticism of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes ramped up on Thursday with even her fellow Democrat, Governor Katie Hobbs, calling her anti-ICE comments “inappropriate.”
Earlier in the day, the Arizona Senate took action and passed a resolution calling on Attorney General Kris Mayes to resign after she publicly insinuated that members of the public could be justified in using deadly force against law enforcement officers. This marks the first time in Arizona history the Senate has formally called on a sitting Attorney General to step down.
“The Attorney General publicly suggested Arizonans could invoke self-defense laws against law enforcement officers,” said Majority Leader John Kavanagh, who sponsored SR 1036. “Her statements were wrong, dangerous, and fundamentally inconsistent with Arizona law. When the state’s top law enforcement officer implies that police officers may be lawful targets, the Senate has a duty to act. Any Arizonan that attempts to invoke ‘stand your ground’ against an officer will not turn out well for that person.”
“Mayes’ comments went beyond careless wording and crossed into guidance that misrepresented the law, failed to explain its narrow limits, and risked emboldening violent misunderstandings in real-world encounters with police,” said Senate President Warren Petersen. “Arizona law does not permit people to shoot law enforcement officers. Full stop. Insinuating otherwise is unacceptable coming from the state’s chief legal officer. Our responsibility is to protect public safety and make the law unmistakably clear.”
By moving swiftly on SR 1036, the Senate signaled that this was not a routine political dispute, but a serious public safety concern requiring immediate correction.
“Law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, are working to protect families and prevent more lives from being lost to violent criminals who should never be on our streets,” said President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope. “Anyone who breaks our laws must be held accountable. When the Attorney General’s rhetoric undercuts that mission or clouds the law, the Legislature has a duty to act, and that’s what we’re doing here.”
“Supporting law enforcement means drawing clear lines,” said Majority Whip Frank Carroll. “There is no scenario where public officials should imply that shooting police officers is acceptable. The Senate is making it clear that this rhetoric has consequences. This vote is about restoring clarity and accountability. Arizona deserves an Attorney General who understands the weight of her words and the danger of getting this wrong.”
SR 1036 calls on Attorney General Mayes to retract her statements, issue clear corrective guidance that accurately reflects Arizona law, publicly affirm unequivocal support for federal, state, and local law enforcement, and resign after losing the trust of Arizona’s law enforcement community.
“Governor Katie Hobbs is so radical that she just vetoed tax relief for struggling families, but even she finds Kris Mayes too radical. Voters elected President Trump on the promise that he would deport criminal illegal aliens, and he is keeping that promise, including thousands of violent offenders, rapists, and murderers. Our ICE officers are following orders and protecting our communities. We stand by our officers and urge these violent agitators and leaders, like Mayes, who encourage them with reckless rhetoric, to stop putting our men and women in blue in harm’s way,” stated AZGOP Chairman Sergio Arellano later in the day.
AZGOP Chairman: “Mayes Too Radical for Radical Katie Hobbs”
On Thursday, Governor Hobbs said that AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes needed to tone down the rhetoric, calling her statements about ICE officers "inappropriate" and warning they could "ramp up the potential for…
— Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) January 30, 2026
Hobbs sided with this Senate resolution? Political CYA, and Mayes won’t resign. TDS is strong in this one.