Kris Mayes announces plans to run for governor in 2026, viral claim debunked as fake
A rapidly spreading online post claiming that Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has officially announced her candidacy for governor in 2026 is false. The fabricated screenshot, which has been shared thousands of times on X and Facebook, shows a fake news graphic with a quote attributed to Mayes stating she will challenge current Governor Katie Hobbs in the primary. Fact-checkers confirm Mayes has not made any such announcement, and her official spokesperson told news outlets the post is "completely fabricated." The real Kris Mayes is currently focused on election integrity cases and has not commented on future political ambitions.