Arizona Gov. Hobbs Picks Former Republican as Running Mate
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has selected John Giles, a former Republican mayor of Mesa, as her running mate for lieutenant governor, setting up a historic bipartisan ticket as voters prepare to elect the state’s first lieutenant governor in November.
The announcement, made Tuesday, marks an overture to the Republicans and conservative independents Hobbs must win in a state that was once a GOP stronghold. According to AP News, Republicans have expanded their voter registration advantage over Democrats since Hobbs eked out a narrow win over Kari Lake, a fierce ally of President Donald Trump, in 2022.
A Historic First
This is the first time Arizona voters will elect a lieutenant governor. The position was created through Proposition 131, approved by voters in the 2022 election, and will take effect in January 2027. Arizona was one of just five states without a lieutenant governor position, along with Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wyoming.
Gubernatorial succession is especially relevant in Arizona, where five governors since 1975 have entered the office through succession rather than election. Of Arizona’s 12 governors over the past 50 years, only one — Republican Doug Ducey — entered and left office through the typical pathway of being elected and serving a full term.
Giles’ Political Evolution
Giles, who served as Mesa’s mayor from 2014 to 2025, has been a vocal Trump critic and endorsed Democrats including Hobbs, Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego, and Kamala Harris. He spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, saying, “The Grand Old Party has been kidnapped by extremists and devolved into a cult — the cult of Donald Trump,” as NBC News reported.
A registered Republican for decades, Giles changed his party affiliation to independent on May 17 and voted in the Democratic primary last month, according to county voting records. In an interview with The Associated Press, Giles said he still considers himself a conservative but gave up his crusade to save the Republican Party.
“A few months ago, I realized that it was time to give up that crusade,” Giles said.
A Bipartisan Appeal
Hobbs framed the selection as part of her commitment to putting Arizona ahead of partisan politics. “At a time when too many politicians are focused on partisan politics, Arizona deserves a lieutenant governor who shares my commitment to putting Arizona first and delivering real results,” Hobbs said in a statement, as Fox 10 Phoenix reported.
Giles echoed that sentiment, saying, “I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an independent because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done.”
Hobbs recently launched the “Arizona Over Party” coalition of more than 50 Republicans and independents supporting her reelection, which includes Giles, according to KNAU.
The Latter-day Saint Factor
Giles is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and church members make up about 6% of Arizona’s population. Latter-day Saints have been a reliably Republican voting bloc for decades, but many have been ambivalent about Trump since his first run for the White House. Democrats have been working to woo Latter-day Saints turned off by Trump’s rhetoric.
Biggs, the Republican nominee, is also a member of the church. Both Giles and Biggs are BYU graduates, making this a “Battle of the BYU grads,” as Deseret News described it.
The Republican Response
The Biggs campaign was quick to attack the selection. Drew Sexton, a senior adviser in the Biggs campaign, said in a statement that Giles “has been an aspiring Democrat since he first voted for Joe Biden in 2020,” and called the rollout “botched” and “half-baked.”
Biggs, a U.S. Representative and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, selected Sine Kerr, a farmer and former Republican state lawmaker, as his running mate last week. Kerr’s rural roots balance Biggs’ base in parts of metro Phoenix.
A Vulnerable Incumbent
Hobbs is considered the most vulnerable Democratic governor in the country, seeking reelection in a state that President Trump won in 2024. The Cook Political Report rates the governor’s race as “Lean Democratic.”
Hobbs also faces an ongoing “pay-to-play” investigation related to Sunshine Residential Homes, which allegedly received preferential treatment after making donations to Hobbs and the state Democratic Party. According to KOLD, Hobbs said her team is in ongoing discussions with the attorney general’s office about the investigation.
What’s Next
In November, Arizona voters will elect a governor and lieutenant governor on a joint ticket for the first time in state history. The outcome will determine not only who leads the state but also whether Hobbs’ gamble on bipartisanship resonates with voters in a deeply polarized political landscape.
Former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake called the choice “a smart move,” telling the Deseret News that Giles is “very well-liked in the East Valley” and will “pick up a lot of Republican and independent votes.” Whether that prediction holds will be tested at the ballot box this fall.