Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has tapped former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a onetime Republican now registered as an independent, as her running mate. The choice is intended to attract Republicans and conservative independents in a state where GOP registration has grown since 2022. Giles, a Trump critic who has backed Democrats in recent cycles, may broaden Hobbs’ appeal but risks disappointing some progressives. Arizona will elect its first lieutenant governor in January after a 2022 vote to create the post.
Katie Hobbs Picks Former Republican John Giles as Bipartisan Running Mate Ahead of Arizona's First Lieutenant Governor Election
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, right, poses for a photograph with her running mate for Lieutenant Governor John Giles, the former Republican Mesa, Ariz., mayor, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has selected John Giles — a longtime Republican who recently registered as an independent — as her running mate in a high-stakes reelection campaign. The pick creates a bipartisan ticket as Arizonans prepare to elect the state's first lieutenant governor in January following a 2022 ballot measure.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, right, sits down with her running mate for Lieutenant Governor John Giles, the former Republican Mesa, Ariz., mayor, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Why Giles?
Giles, the former mayor of Mesa (2014–2025), changed his party affiliation to Independent on May 17 and, according to county voting records, voted in the Democratic primary last month. A self-described conservative, Giles has nonetheless been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and has backed Democratic candidates in recent cycles. In 2024 he publicly supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris and spoke at the Democratic National Convention.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, right, listens as her running mate for Lieutenant Governor John Giles, the former Republican Mesa, Ariz., mayor, answers a question, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Strategy and Reactions
Hobbs' choice is a clear outreach to Republicans and conservative independents in a state where the GOP has widened its voter-registration advantage since Hobbs' narrow 2022 victory over Kari Lake. Democrats see Giles as someone who can help broaden the governor’s appeal, while the selection also risks frustrating some progressives who prefer a more traditionally Democratic running mate.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, right, talks about her running mate for Lieutenant Governor John Giles, the former Republican Mesa, Ariz., mayor, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Republican nominee, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, last week named Sine Kerr — a farmer and former state lawmaker — as his running mate. The Biggs campaign quickly highlighted Giles’ past support for Democrats, launching a website and issuing statements that questioned the sincerity of the Hobbs–Giles partnership.
Runing mate for Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Lieutenant Governor John Giles, the former Republican Mesa, Ariz., mayor, answers a question, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Religion and Voter Outreach
Both Giles and Biggs are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Latter-day Saints make up roughly 6% of Arizona’s population and have historically leaned Republican, though many have expressed reservations about Trump. The Hobbs campaign believes Giles could help attract Latter-day Saints and other conservative-leaning voters who are uneasy with Trump-aligned candidates.
Lieutenant Governor Post And Succession
Arizona will elect its first lieutenant governor in January after voters added the post in 2022 to clarify the line of succession. Until then, the secretary of state remains next in line to become governor. Succession has been consequential in Arizona politics: since 1975, five governors have taken office through succession rather than election. Of the state's 12 governors over the past 50 years, only one — Republican Doug Ducey — served a full term having been elected and leaving office through the normal cycle; others left office due to death, impeachment, resignation after conviction, or to accept federal appointments.
What This Means
Hobbs' selection of Giles sharpens her bipartisan message and contrasts her ticket against Biggs, whom Hobbs and Giles portray as a far-right partisan. The move reframes the race around questions of electability and moderation, while adding a new dimension to voter calculations ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Notable quotes: Giles said he stayed in the Republican Party "longer than he should have" trying to fix it and that "a few months ago, I realized that it was time to give up that crusade." Hobbs described her approach as nonpartisan and said the selection should not surprise supporters.
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