Governor Katie Hobbs Selects Former Mayor John Giles as Running Mate

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs selected former Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate for lieutenant governor on August 11, 2026. The selection creates a bipartisan ticket for the state's first-ever election for the position, which was added to the state constitution via a 2022 voter proposition to clarify the line of succession.

Giles, a lifelong Republican who changed his party affiliation to independent in May 2026, is a critic of Donald Trump and endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024. Hobbs stated she chose Giles because he shares her commitment to prioritizing citizens over partisan politics. The announcement followed a week of speculation after the New York Times reported the pick on August 4, a report the Hobbs campaign initially refused to confirm.

Republican gubernatorial nominee U.S. Representative Andy Biggs, who selected former state lawmaker Sine Kerr as his running mate, criticized the announcement as botched and half-baked. The Biggs campaign characterized Giles as an aspiring Democrat and launched a website highlighting his ties to the Democratic Party. Campaign advisers argued that Giles is aligned with policies that have harmed Arizonans, specifically citing federal border policy, COVID-19 spending, and local ordinances in Mesa.