Key facts
- Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has chosen John Giles, former Republican mayor of Mesa, as her running mate.
- Giles, who was Mesa's mayor from 2014 to 2025, recently switched his party affiliation to independent.
- Giles has previously endorsed Democrats, including Kamala Harris and supported Hobbs in her 2022 race.
- The Republican ticket features U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs with Sine Kerr as his running mate.
- Arizona is establishing the position of lieutenant governor for the first time, effective in January.
Democratic Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has selected John Giles, the former Republican mayor of Mesa, to be her running mate in her bid for re-election. This strategic move aims to build a bipartisan ticket in a state that has historically favored Republicans and where Hobbs faces a challenging campaign.
Giles, who served as Mesa's mayor for a decade until 2025, recently changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent. He has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and has publicly endorsed Democratic candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he spoke in favor of at the Democratic National Convention. Giles also supported Democrats in other key Arizona races, including Hobbs' 2022 victory over Kari Lake and the campaigns of U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
The Republican ticket will feature U.S. Representative Andy Biggs, who has chosen Sine Kerr, a farmer and former state lawmaker, as his running mate. The Biggs campaign has already highlighted Giles' past support for Harris and his participation in the Democratic convention, with a campaign adviser stating that Giles has been an "aspiring Democrat" since voting for Joe Biden in 2020.
Giles' membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a demographic that has historically leaned Republican but shown ambivalence towards Trump, is also seen as a potential advantage for Hobbs. His selection is intended to appeal to moderate Republicans and independents, contrasting with Biggs' far-right congressional background.
Arizona is also establishing the position of lieutenant governor for the first time, with the new role taking effect in January. This change aims to clarify the line of succession for the governorship, a position that has seen frequent transitions through means other than election in the state's history.