Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs announced her selection of John Giles, a former Republican mayor of Mesa, as her running mate for her reelection campaign. The choice reflects efforts to appeal to Republican and conservative independent voters in a state where the GOP has expanded its voter registration advantage since Hobbs’ narrow 2022 victory over Kari Lake. Political analysts describe Hobbs as facing one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in the nation.
Giles served as Mesa’s mayor from 2014 to 2025 before switching his party affiliation from Republican to independent in May. He subsequently voted in the Democratic primary later that month. In interviews, Giles characterized himself as a conservative who remained in the Republican Party longer than warranted, saying he had attempted to influence the party’s direction before concluding that effort was no longer viable. His record as mayor included controversial initiatives such as signing a proclamation promoting equal treatment for LGBTQ residents in housing and accommodations.
Giles has publicly supported Democratic candidates in recent election cycles, including Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, where he spoke at the Democratic National Convention about concerns regarding Trump’s policies and their potential impact on Mesa. He also backed Hobbs in her 2022 gubernatorial race and has been critical of Trump’s rhetoric and policy positions. The Republican nominee for governor, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, has selected Sine Kerr, a farmer and former state lawmaker, as his running mate, creating competing tickets as Arizona voters elect the state’s first lieutenant governor following a 2022 ballot measure.
Hobbs characterized her selection as consistent with her nonpartisan governing approach, while indicating that her choice should not surprise observers of state politics. Giles and Hobbs have jointly characterized Biggs as an extreme partisan, with Giles arguing that Biggs’ current political positioning misrepresents his long-standing conservative record. The Biggs campaign responded by highlighting Giles’ Democratic convention participation and support for Harris, suggesting the choice demonstrates alignment with positions the campaign argues have proved damaging to Arizona residents.
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