Hobbs Selects Former Mesa Mayor John Giles for November Ticket
Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs announced her re-election campaign running mate, selecting former Mesa Republican Mayor John Giles as her lieutenant governor candidate for the November ballot, according to reporting confirmed by NBC News. The joint video announcement pairs the Democratic incumbent with a longtime municipal leader who officially changed his party registration to independent in May.
Voters across the state will elect a lieutenant governor on the same ticket as the governor for the first time in Arizona history this fall, following a ballot measure approved during the 2022 election.
“The first thing I looked for in a running mate was someone who shares that value of putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics,” Hobbs stated during their joint announcement.
A High-Profile Break With the GOP
Giles served as the Republican mayor of Mesa from 2014 to 2025. His split with the national Republican Party became prominent during the 2024 presidential cycle when he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, declaring that the modern GOP had been altered by political extremism. According to NBC News, Hobbs’ communications director Michael Beyer confirmed that Giles voted in the Democratic primary last month.
The 2026 Gubernatorial Contest and GOP Rivalry
Hobbs secures her ticket as she heads into a competitive general election cycle in a state rated as leaning Democratic by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. The state’s political history reflects tight margins, as Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake by less than one percentage point during the 2022 gubernatorial contest, while presidential outcomes in Arizona have swung between major party nominees over recent election cycles.
On the opposing side, the Republican nomination went to Representative Andy Biggs, a former chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who has represented Arizona in Congress since 2017. Biggs secured victory in a primary last month that included fellow Representative David Schweikert alongside businessmen Scott Neely and Ken Miceli. Biggs subsequently selected former state lawmaker Sine Kerr as his running mate. Biggs’ campaign has focused heavily on border security, lowering taxes, and his alignment with Donald Trump.
Bipartisan Alliances
Her campaign noted that she has signed more than 900 pieces of bipartisan legislation into law since taking office. Her platform emphasizes border security, public safety support, expanding affordable housing, and her repeal of the state’s 1864 total abortion ban.
As part of this outreach, the governor recently formed a coalition comprising over 50 business leaders and officials, current and former, from both independent and Republican backgrounds. Giles is part of this coalition, having joined forces with the campaign to appeal to voters.
Upcoming Election Milestones
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