Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs selected John Giles as her running mate for lieutenant governor in her re-election bid. The announcement marks the first time a governor and lieutenant governor will appear on the same ticket in the state's history.

Hobbs framed the selection as a move to prioritize governance over party loyalty. "Now, for the first time in our state’s history, we are electing a governor and lieutenant governor on the same ticket," Hobbs said in a video announcement. "And the first thing I looked for in a running mate was someone who shares that value of putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics."

Giles served as the Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona, from 2014 to 2025. He changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent on May 17, according to county voting records.

The former mayor explained his departure from the party during the announcement. "I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an independent because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done," Giles said. He added in an interview with The Associated Press that he had reached a breaking point. "A few months ago, I realized that it was time to give up that crusade," he said.

Giles’ break with the Republican Party began in earnest in 2022, when he was censured by the Arizona Republican Party for endorsing Democrat Mark Kelly in his U.S. Senate race. Giles continued to align with Democratic candidates, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election and co-chairing the Arizona chapter of Republicans for Harris.

His alignment with the Democratic national ticket became public at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024. Speaking to delegates, Giles addressed his shift in allegiance. "I’m a lifelong Republican, so I feel a little out of place tonight," he said.

"But I feel more at home here than in today’s Republican Party. The Grand Old Party has been kidnapped by extremists and devolved into a cult — the cult of Donald Trump." He further stated that Americans in the political middle did not owe anything to the remnants of the party associated with John McCain, using profanity to emphasize his rejection of the current GOP direction.

Giles’ legislative record as mayor included actions that aligned with progressive priorities. In 2021, he led the adoption of a citywide nondiscrimination ordinance that included protections for LGBTQ+ residents in housing and accommodations. He also signed a proclamation promoting equal treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents. Giles is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a demographic that makes up about 6% of the Arizona population.

Hobbs responded to questions about the partnership in an interview with The Associated Press. "It shouldn't be a surprise," she said. The governor has built a coalition of former and current Republican and independent leaders to support her re-election, including Giles and more than 50 other business leaders and officials. Her campaign noted that she signed more than 900 pieces of bipartisan legislation into law during her term.

Hobbs previously served as Arizona’s secretary of state from 2015 to 2022, where she oversaw elections and played a key role in the 2020 presidential election certification process. She also served as minority leader in the state Senate and as a member of the state House. In 2023, she repealed Arizona’s 1864 total abortion ban, a move that solidified her reputation as a progressive leader within the Democratic Party.

The 2026 election will feature a newly created office. Voters will elect a lieutenant governor for the first time in Arizona this fall after a ballot measure creating the position was approved in the 2022 election. Arizona is one of five states without a lieutenant governor position, along with Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wyoming.

Historical data shows that five Arizona governors since 1975 entered office through succession rather than election. Of the state's 12 governors over the past 50 years, only Doug Ducey entered and left office through election and serving a full term.

Hobbs faces Republican nominee Andy Biggs, who won the Republican primary last month by defeating David Schweikert, Scott Neely, and Ken Miceli. Biggs has served in Congress since 2017 and previously chaired the House Freedom Caucus. He selected Sine Kerr as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Like Giles, Biggs is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Giles criticized his opponent’s political positioning in an interview with The Associated Press. "It’s disingenuous for Biggs to present himself as more of a moderate when he was unapologetic about being the most conservative person in the room – in any room," Giles said. Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake in the 2022 gubernatorial election by less than 1 percentage point. Reports indicate her victory was certified after a 10-day recount, with a margin of 2,843 votes out of 2.8 million cast.

The political landscape in Arizona has shown volatility in recent presidential cycles. Joe Biden won Arizona in the 2020 presidential election, while Donald Trump carried the state in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections. The Cook Political Report rated the Arizona governor’s race as leaning Democratic. Giles voted in the Democratic primary last month, further signaling his integration into the party’s electoral base.

Why It Matters

This election marks the first time Arizona voters will choose a governor and lieutenant governor on a single ticket, ending a history where five governors since 1975 assumed office through succession. The pairing of a Democratic incumbent with a former Republican mayor reflects a strategic shift toward bipartisan coalitions in a state that has oscillated between parties in recent presidential cycles. This structural change aims to prioritize governance over partisan loyalty while testing whether cross-party alliances can influence outcomes in a closely divided electorate.