AZ Democrat governor formally selects former Republican mayor as running mate in reelection campaign

Arizona's Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs formally announced Tuesday her running mate for the November general election will be a former Republican mayor, who switched his party affiliation to Independent in May.

Hobbs selected former Mesa Mayor John Giles to serve as her lieutenant governor, stating she wanted a running mate who put state residents ahead of partisan politics. Giles served as Mesa's Republican mayor from 2014 to 2025. 

The governor said in a joint campaign video with Giles that she has fought for Arizonans by cutting taxes, securing the border and supporting public safety.

“Now, for the first time in our state’s history, we are electing a governor and lieutenant governor on the same ticket," she said. "The first thing I looked for in a running mate was someone who shares that value of putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics."

Hobbs, a low-key Democrat, will be up against Rep. Andy Biggs, who has President Donald Trump's endorsement. Hobbs won a narrow victory four years ago thanks to the backing of moderate Republicans and independents, who have showed less support for hard-line Republican nominees in the past two election cycles. 

Giles, who voted in the Democratic primary last month, endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that same year.

“I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an independent because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done," the former Republican said. 

Hobbs has tried to promote her work as a bipartisan governor in her reelection bid, emphasizing her record of signing more than 900 pieces of bipartisan legislation into law, including the repeal of her state’s 1864 near-total abortion ban.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.