PHOENIX, Arizona — Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is making an explicit appeal to moderate Republicans and independents by choosing former Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate in Arizona’s closely watched gubernatorial race.
Giles served as Mesa’s mayor from 2014 through 2025 and spent decades as a Republican before changing his registration to independent in May. He endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024 and used his Democratic National Convention appearance to denounce Donald Trump’s influence over the GOP.
“I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an independent because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done,” Giles said in the campaign’s announcement.
Arizona voters will elect a lieutenant governor for the first time this November after approving the new office in 2022. Hobbs said she wanted a running mate who would put “Arizonans ahead of partisan politics.”
Her Republican opponent, Rep. Andy Biggs, has chosen former state Sen. Sine Kerr as his running mate. Biggs, a former House Freedom Caucus chairman, has closely aligned himself with Trump, creating a clear contrast with Hobbs’ effort to build a cross-party coalition.
The strategy could matter in a state where elections have repeatedly been decided by narrow margins. A recent AARP poll found Hobbs leading Biggs 52% to 44% among likely voters, although several months remain before Election Day.
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