Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is expected to select a former Republican mayor as her running mate in this November’s gubernatorial election, reports claim.

Hobbs faces a competitive re-election bid against Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ).

According to The New York Times, Hobbs plans to tap John Giles, the former mayor of Mesa, as her lieutenant governor nominee.

“Neither Ms. Hobbs nor her campaign would confirm the choice, and nothing is final until an announcement,” the outlet stated.

More from The New York Times:

ADVERTISEMENT

But the apparent pick is a nod to bipartisanship in a campaign that will pit Ms. Hobbs, a low-key Democrat, against Representative Andy Biggs, a fiercely partisan Republican with President Trump’s endorsement.

Ms. Hobbs’s narrow victory four years ago was secured with the backing of moderate Republicans and independent voters who have recoiled against hard-line Republican nominees in each of the last two election cycles.

Reached at his home in Mesa, Mr. Giles would not confirm or deny that he had joined the ticket, but a person close to the campaign and another close to Mr. Giles said the choice had been made.

Arizonans for the first time this November will elect a lieutenant governor running on the same ticket as the governor, thanks to a 2022 ballot measure that created the lieutenant governor position.

Calli Jones, a spokeswoman for the Arizona secretary of state’s office, said the office told all governor candidates last Friday that their lieutenant governor picks must be submitted by Aug. 7 to ensure the office has enough time to print their names on the November ballot.

“Today, I was proud to launch our Arizona Over Party coalition alongside Republican and Independent leaders, community members, and business professionals who believe moving Arizona forward is more important than any party affiliation,” Hobbs said Tuesday.

“Arizona’s future is bigger than partisan politics,” she added.

Giles served as Mesa mayor from 2014 to 2025.

According to The New York Times, Giles endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

ADVERTISEMENT

12News shared further:

Giles would help shore up the governor’s support among independent voters, a swing group that decides Arizona elections.

A Hobbs-Giles ticket would contrast with the conservative Republican ticket of Congressman Andy Biggs and his lieutenant governor pick, former state Sen. Sine Kerr of Buckeye.

Within hours after the New York Times reported on the Giles pick, the Biggs campaign was up with a new website, hobbsgilesaz.com, that portrayed the Democratic ticket as “Tim & Kamala’s choice for governor.”

Giles has crafted a bipartisan reputation during the last two election cycles, breaking with his party to endorse Democratic candidates.

He endorsed Hobbs for governor in 2022 over Republican candidate Kari Lake. Giles gave the closing remarks at Hobbs’ inauguration in January 2023

In 2024, Giles endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president, invoking the “Country First” motto of the late Sen. John McCain. He spoke at the Democratic convention in Chicago.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.