Kris Mayes

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Kris Mayes
Mayes in 2022
Kris Mayes
BornKristin Kay Mayes
6 9, 1970
BirthplacePrescott, Arizona, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationLawyer, politician, journalist
Known for27th Attorney General of Arizona
EducationArizona State University (BA, JD)
Columbia University (MPA)
Children1
Website[[krismayes.com krismayes.com] Official site]

Kristin Kay Mayes (born September 6, 1970) is an American lawyer, politician, and former journalist who has served as the 27th Attorney General of Arizona since January 2, 2023.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, Mayes won the 2022 attorney general race against Republican Abraham Hamadeh by a margin of just 280 votes, making it one of the closest statewide elections in Arizona history.[2] Before entering electoral politics, Mayes worked as a journalist and later served on the Arizona Corporation Commission, including a term as its chair. She also served as a professor of practice at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.[3] Mayes is the second woman elected Arizona attorney general, after Janet Napolitano, the third openly lesbian woman elected attorney general of a U.S. state, after Maura Healey and Dana Nessel, and the second openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Arizona, after Kyrsten Sinema.[4]

Early Life

Kristin Kay Mayes was born on September 6, 1970, in Prescott, Arizona.[5] She grew up in Arizona and pursued her undergraduate education at Arizona State University in Tempe, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[6] Before entering the legal and political fields, Mayes worked as a journalist, a background that informed her later career in public service and policy.[7]

Education

Mayes received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University in Tempe. She went on to earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University in New York City. She later returned to Arizona State University, where she obtained her Juris Doctor (JD) from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.[3][8]

Career

Journalism

Prior to her career in law and politics, Mayes worked as a journalist. This early career phase provided her with experience in public affairs and policy analysis that would later influence her approach to government service.[7]

Arizona Corporation Commission

Mayes was appointed to the Arizona Corporation Commission in October 2003, succeeding James Irvin.[9] She subsequently won election to the commission in the 2004 general election.[10] At the time, Mayes was a member of the Republican Party.

In January 2009, Mayes was selected as chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission, succeeding Mike Gleason in that role.[11] She served as chair until December 31, 2010, when she was succeeded by Gary Pierce. Her overall tenure on the commission extended from October 2003 through December 31, 2010, during which time she was succeeded as a member by Brenda Burns.[9]

During her time on the commission, Mayes was involved in regulatory decisions affecting Arizona's public utilities, telecommunications, and energy sectors. The Arizona Corporation Commission is one of the state's most consequential regulatory bodies, with authority over public service corporations including electric utilities, water companies, and telecommunications providers.

Academic Career

After leaving the Arizona Corporation Commission, Mayes joined the faculty of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University as a professor of practice.[3] She was also affiliated with the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University.[6] In this capacity, she taught courses related to energy law, regulatory policy, and related subjects, drawing on her experience as a former corporation commissioner.

Party Switch

Mayes was a member of the Republican Party for much of her political career, including during her tenure on the Arizona Corporation Commission. In 2019, she changed her party affiliation to the Democratic Party.[7] The switch preceded her 2022 campaign for attorney general and reflected a broader political realignment that several moderate Arizona Republicans underwent during this period.

2022 Attorney General Campaign

In June 2021, Mayes announced her candidacy for Attorney General of Arizona as a Democrat.[7] The announcement marked her return to electoral politics after more than a decade away from the ballot.

The 2022 general election for Arizona attorney general pitted Mayes against Republican nominee Abraham Hamadeh. The race proved to be one of the closest in Arizona's history. After all ballots were counted, Mayes led Hamadeh by a margin of just 280 votes out of more than 2.5 million cast, a result that triggered an automatic recount under Arizona law.[2][12]

Hamadeh filed a lawsuit challenging the election results, seeking to reverse the outcome.[13] The legal challenge was adjudicated in Maricopa County Superior Court.[14][15] Following the mandatory recount and the resolution of legal challenges, the results were certified and Mayes was confirmed as the winner.[16] In a public statement following the recount, Mayes expressed gratitude, saying she was "thankful" for the outcome.[16] She was also confirmed as the winner by official state election results.[17] During the campaign, Mayes expressed confidence in the outcome even as the race remained undecided for weeks after Election Day.[18]

Attorney General of Arizona

Mayes took office as the 27th Attorney General of Arizona on January 2, 2023, succeeding Republican Mark Brnovich. She serves under Governor Katie Hobbs.[1]

2020 Alternate Electors Investigation

As attorney general, Mayes's office investigated the slate of alternate electors who had been put forward in Arizona following the 2020 presidential election. The investigation examined the actions of individuals who had submitted documents purporting to represent Arizona's electoral votes for Donald Trump, despite the state having been certified for Joe Biden. The probe drew national attention as part of broader scrutiny of similar alternate elector schemes in multiple states.[19]

Immigration and ICE Enforcement Comments

In January 2026, Mayes drew significant attention and criticism for comments she made during a television interview regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement operations in Arizona. During an interview with 12News, Mayes stated that she was concerned potential confrontations between Arizona residents and ICE officers could turn deadly under the state's gun laws.[20] Specifically, Mayes suggested that under Arizona's stand-your-ground laws, residents could potentially use lethal force against masked ICE agents if they felt threatened, describing the situation as a "recipe for" danger.[21]

The remarks generated considerable controversy. Fox News reported that Mayes was "blasted" for what critics called a "dangerous" claim.[22] The comments were also reported by outlets including KRCR-TV, which noted Mayes had said residents could "fire upon ICE agents who are masked if they feel they are" threatened.[23] Mayes discussed the issue further in a one-on-one interview with 12News anchor Brahm Resnik.[24]

Consumer Protection Actions

In February 2026, Mayes announced a settlement with Reynolds Consumer Products, the parent company of the Hefty brand, over misleading claims about its plastic bags. The attorney general's office argued that the company had advertised certain bags as "ideal for collecting recyclable materials" when in fact the plastic bags were not recyclable in most municipal recycling programs.[25] The settlement was reported by multiple Arizona news outlets.[26][27] The action reflected the office's focus on consumer protection and holding corporations accountable for deceptive marketing practices.

Personal Life

Mayes is openly lesbian.[4] She has one child.[5] Her election as attorney general in 2022 made her the third openly lesbian woman elected to serve as a state attorney general in the United States, following Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Dana Nessel of Michigan. She was also the second openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Arizona, after U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema.[4]

Mayes previously was a member of the Republican Party before switching her affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2019.[7]

Recognition

Mayes's 2022 election was noted for several historic distinctions. She became the second woman to be elected Attorney General of Arizona, the first being Janet Napolitano, who served in the role from 1999 to 2003 before becoming governor.[4] Her victory was also recognized as one of the closest elections in Arizona's history, with the 280-vote margin triggering national media coverage of the prolonged counting and recount process.[2][12]

The election drew attention from LGBT media and advocacy organizations, with Metro Weekly and other publications covering the significance of her win as an openly lesbian candidate in a competitive statewide race.[4] Her career trajectory—from journalist to utility regulator to law professor to attorney general—was noted as unusual in Arizona political circles.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Arizona Attorney General".Arizona Attorney General's Office.http://www.azag.gov/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Arizona attorney general race results are among closest in state history".The Arizona Republic.https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/19/arizona-attorney-general-race-results-are-among-closest-in-state-history/69661409007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Faculty Profile: Kris Mayes".Arizona State University.http://apps.law.asu.edu/Apps/Faculty/Faculty.aspx?individual_id=350.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Lesbian candidate Kris Mayes wins Arizona attorney general race".Metro Weekly.https://www.metroweekly.com/2022/12/lesbian-candidate-kris-mayes-wins-arizona-attorney-general-race/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Kris Mayes".C-SPAN.https://www.c-span.org/person/?42700.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Kris Mayes".Arizona State University, School for the Future of Innovation in Society.https://sfis.asu.edu/node/1807.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Kris Mayes, former Arizona Corporation Commission member, running for state attorney general".The Arizona Republic.https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/06/23/kris-mayes-former-arizona-corporation-commission-member-running-for-state-attorney-general/5328711001/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Ms. Kristin K. Mayes".Martindale-Hubbell.https://www.martindale.com/attorney/ms-kristin-k-mayes-168767302/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Commissioner Kris Mayes".Arizona Corporation Commission.https://web.archive.org/web/20070913160042/http://www.azcc.gov/commissioners/mayes/default.asp.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "2004 General Election Information".Arizona Secretary of State.https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2004/general/ElectionInformation.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Chair Selection".Arizona Corporation Commission.https://www.azcc.gov/Divisions/Administration/news/090106Chair%20selection.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Kris Mayes defeats Abe Hamadeh in Arizona attorney general race".KJZZ.https://kjzz.org/content/1827159/kris-mayes-defeats-abe-hamadeh-arizona-attorney-general-race.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "GOP candidate for Arizona attorney general sues to reverse results".MSN.https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-candidate-for-arizona-attorney-general-sues-to-reverse-results/ar-AA14t2eF.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Court Document".Clerk of the Superior Court, Maricopa County.https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/4601.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Court Document".Clerk of the Superior Court, Maricopa County.https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/4595#page=5.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "'Thankful': New Arizona attorney general Mayes responds after recount".The Arizona Republic.https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/12/29/thankful-new-arizona-attorney-general-mayes-responds-after-recount/69764615007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "2022 General Election Results".Arizona Secretary of State.https://results.arizona.vote/#/state/33/0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "'We feel confident': Mayes upbeat as Arizona AG race heads to recount".The Arizona Republic.https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/22/we-feel-confident-mayes-upbeat-as-arizona-ag-race-heads-to-recount/69668601007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Arizona attorney general probing alternate electors in 2020 presidential election".NBC News.https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/arizona-attorney-general-probing-alternate-electors-2020-presidential-rcna94113.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Arizona AG warns potential ICE confrontations could turn deadly under state's gun law".12News.https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/arizona-attorney-general-warns-potential-ice-confrontations-could-turn-deadly-under-states-gun-law/75-6b1ce13f-2e19-47f5-9340-92c7020303b0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Arizona AG Kris Mayes wildly suggests residents can shoot masked ICE agents under state's self-defense laws".New York Post.2026-01-22.https://nypost.com/2026/01/22/us-news/arizona-ag-wildly-suggests-residents-can-shoot-masked-ice-agents-under-states-self-defense-laws/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Arizona Dem AG blasted for 'dangerous' claim residents can shoot ICE agents under state laws".Fox News.https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-dem-ag-blasted-dangerous-claim-residents-can-shoot-ice-agents-under-state-laws.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Arizona AG suggests state's self-defense laws allow residents to shoot masked ICE agents".KRCR.https://krcrtv.com/news/nation-world/arizona-ag-suggests-states-self-defense-laws-allow-residents-to-shoot-ice-agents-kris-mayes-minnesota-immigration-lethal-force.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "12News Exclusive: AZ AG Kris Mayes one-on-one with Brahm Resnik".12News.https://www.12news.com/video/news/local/12news-exclusive-az-ag-kris-mayes-one-on-one-with-brahm-resnik/75-69f12656-07c4-472e-a9f6-c00410782b27.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Arizona AG reaches settlement over unrecyclable 'recycling' bags".AZ Family.2026-02-23.https://www.azfamily.com/2026/02/23/arizona-ag-reaches-settlement-over-unrecyclable-recycling-bags/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Arizona AG Kris Mayes secures settlement with Hefty over false claims".KVOA.https://www.kvoa.com/news/arizona/arizona-ag-kris-mayes-secures-settlement-with-hefty-over-false-claims/article_f8f69258-a7f5-4705-9255-8d0d3e53b0b2.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Arizona AG settles with Hefty parent company over packaging implying bags were recyclable".KTAR News.https://ktar.com/arizona-news/hefty-recyclable-bags/5826303/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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