Hobbs Taps Ex-Republican Mayor Giles for Arizona's First LG Race

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has selected John Giles, a former Republican mayor of Mesa, as her running mate for the state's first-ever lieutenant governor election. The announcement, made Tuesday, positions the Democratic incumbent alongside a politician who recently left the GOP, a move aimed at courting moderate Republicans and independents in a state that has shifted politically.

Giles, who served as Mesa's mayor from 2014 to 2025, changed his voter registration from Republican to independent in May and cast a ballot in the Democratic primary last month. He has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and endorsed Hobbs in her 2022 gubernatorial race against Kari Lake.

The selection comes as Hobbs faces what many consider the toughest reelection fight among the nation's governors. Republicans have expanded their voter registration advantage since her narrow 2022 victory. Her opponent, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, has chosen Sine Kerr, a farmer and former Republican state lawmaker, as his running mate.

Giles, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, could help Hobbs appeal to a voting bloc that has shown ambivalence toward Trump. Latter-day Saints make up about 6% of Arizona's population and have historically leaned Republican.

Arizona is one of five states without a lieutenant governor position. Voters approved creating the office in 2022 to clarify the line of succession, a matter of particular importance in a state where five governors since 1975 have taken office through succession rather than election.