Risa Lombardo

Lombardo was born in New York City, moved to Arizona in 1991, raised two daughters in the state and worked as a legal secretary and assistant, according to her candidate statement in the state voter education guide.[5] She was previously a precinct committee member for the Arizona Republican Party.[4]

The Arizona Green Party has disavowed her candidacy, accusing her of being a Republican running to draw votes from Gov. Hobbs.[6] Lombardo told the Arizona Mirror in April that she had been a Democrat most of her life and had been registered with both parties.[4]

As an allegation, not a charge, the Arizona Mirror reported on Sept. 1, 2026 that the Attorney General's office opened a criminal investigation into reported campaign-finance fraud involving her Clean Elections qualifying contributions.[6] The Mirror also reported that the Clean Elections Commission had ordered its director to complete an investigation and recommend whether she must repay public funds, and that six voters told the Mirror they had not made contributions listed in their names.[6] At a Clean Elections Commission meeting, her attorney, Tim La Sota, characterized the investigations and accusations as conspiracy theories.[6]