In a notable move in the competitive state of Arizona, the Democratic incumbent governor has chosen a Republican to run as her lieutenant governor candidate. This decision is seen as a strategy to attract moderate right-leaning voters in a region known for its strong conservative presence, having produced figures like the late Senator John McCain.
On August 10, Katie Hobbs, 57, announced that she has selected John Giles, 66, the former mayor of Mesa, as her running mate. Giles served as mayor from 2014 to 2025 in Mesa, a city located east of Phoenix, Arizona, with a significant Asian American population, including many of Korean descent.
Axios Phoenix reported that while Giles spent most of his life as a Republican, he distanced himself from the party during Donald Trump's presidency. He supported Hobbs, the Democratic candidate for governor, in 2022 and endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, even speaking at the Democratic National Convention.
According to local KTAR radio, Giles changed his party affiliation to independent on May 17, 2026, as recorded in the Maricopa County voter records. He had been registered as a Republican since 1986.
Axios Phoenix analyzed Hobbs' choice of Giles as a move to strengthen her centrist image amid a tough re-election battle. The outlet noted that appealing to moderate right-leaning and independent voters is crucial for Hobbs, as there are significantly more registered Republicans than Democrats in Arizona. NBC News also highlighted that Hobbs narrowly defeated Republican candidate Kari Lake by less than 1% in the 2022 gubernatorial election and has recently formed alliances with current and former Republican and independent leaders to support her re-election.
On the Republican side, Congressman Andy Biggs, a Trump supporter and activist, is running against Hobbs. Biggs secured the nomination by defeating his competitor, David Schweikert, decisively in the Republican primary. NBC reported that Biggs emphasizes his relationship with Trump while focusing on border issues and tax cuts.
Biggs has chosen conservative former state senator Syne Kerr, an agricultural expert, as his running mate. Kerr opposes all forms of abortion and resigned from her position as the Arizona director of the USDA during the Trump administration to run in this election.
This election marks the first time Arizona will elect a lieutenant governor, following the introduction of the elected lieutenant governor system through a voter referendum in 2022.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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