Tolbert: Hobbs Switches From Governor To Lt. Governor (UPDATED)

State Rep. Debra Hobbs of Rogers is currently a Republican candidate for Governor but they may soon change.  We know she has some sort of announcement planned for Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 in the Old Supreme Court chamber at the state capitol.  This is confirmed, but the rest is unconfirmed.

But based on multiple reliable sources familar with Hobbs plans tell me that she plans to announce a switch from the governor’s race to the lieutenant governor’s race.  This announcement comes as the legislature advances legislation that would allow the lieutenant governor’s office to stay vacant for the rest of year and avoid a special election to replace former Lt. Governor Mark Darr who resigned February 1.

Hobbs would join her House colleagues – State Reps. Andy Mayberry and Charlie Collins in the race (Side note – Collins seems to be soft in his commitment to the race if Griffin gets in.  Look for him to move to re-election to his House seat).  Congressman Tim Griffin is also expected to announce plans to join the race on Thursday and he will certainly add a big name with what will likely be a well funded campaign to the mix.

In her most recent financial filing, Hobbs reporting raising over $18,000 for her campaign for Governor while loaning her campaign $50,000 in personal funds. She ended with a cash balance of about $36,000.  These funds can transfer to her race for Lt. Governor.

Her exit from the Governor’s race would leave Asa Hutchinson and Curtis Coleman and would avoid any chance of the race having to go to a runoff (although that was unlikely already).

More as I know it.

UPDATE – As expected, Hobbs announced she will run for Lieutenant Governor instead of Governor.  One note – a reader pointed out that her ability to transfer funds from the Governor’s race to the Lieutenant Governor’s race may have some limitation based on carryover rules, etc.  I am not completely sure which funds can and cannot be transferred – not that it is that large of an amount either way.

All of this will likely change tomorrow with the expected entry of Congressman Tim Griffin who will likely raise a ton of money and run a well-funded race with strong name recognition.  The question will be:  Can Hobbs peal off enough votes in GOP-rich northwest Arkansas to keep Griffin under 50 percent and force a runoff with either herself or Mayberry?