Katie Hobbs Plans to Tap Moderate Republican John Giles

Katie Hobbs, the Governor of Arizona, plans to select former Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate for lieutenant governor in the November election. The decision follows a 2022 ballot measure that established a joint ticket for the two offices.

Although the Hobbs campaign has not officially confirmed the choice, the move aims to appeal to independent voters and moderate Republicans. Giles is a Republican who has previously endorsed Democratic candidates and criticized the current direction of the Republican Party.

This bipartisan strategy comes as Hobbs faces a competitive re-election challenge from Representative Andy Biggs. Biggs, a conservative Republican, has already named former state lawmaker Sine Kerr as his running mate for lieutenant governor.