“Bipartisan Ticket”: Katie Hobbs Announces Mayor John Giles as Her Choice for Lieutenant Governor

Washington Post: In Selecting Her Running Mate, Hobbs Sought Out Someone Who “Shared That Value of Putting Arizonans Ahead of Partisan Politics”

PHOENIX – On Tuesday, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced former Mesa Mayor John Giles as her choice for lieutenant governor, praising him as a leader who shares her commitment to putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics and delivering real results.

A lifelong Republican before becoming an Independent, Giles has a strong record of bringing people together to solve problems and is committed to keeping Arizona moving forward.

The selection has already drawn national attention for the coalition Hobbs and Giles are building around putting Arizona first. The Washington Post called the decision from Hobbs a “politically rare ticket in an era when partisanship reigns supreme.” KTAR political analyst Stan Barnes called it “in the net, it’s a good decision.” One Republican consultant said Giles is “regarded amongst the non-partisan element of the state as a problem solver.”

Here’s what Arizonans are reading:

Associated Press: Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former Republican Mayor John Giles as her running mate

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has picked a Republican-turned-independent to be her running mate in a tough reelection campaign, setting up a bipartisan ticket as voters elect the state’s first lieutenant governor.
Picking a Republican running mate hones the bipartisan image Hobbs has tried to create, contrasting with Biggs’ background as a far-right congressman and, before that, the state Senate president.

Washington Post: In a partisan age, a Democratic governor goes outside her brand for a running mate

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, the most vulnerable Democratic governor in the country, announced a former Republican as her running mate for reelection Tuesday, assembling a politically rare ticket in an era when partisanship reigns supreme.
Her ticket is rare, as politicians in a country increasingly divided by ideological preference have been pulled toward their base. But even as voters have moved toward the extreme, others have rebelled against political parties, with growing numbers calling themselves independent.
Hobbs is casting herself as a “champion for every Arizonan.” In selecting her running mate, Hobbs sought out someone who “shared that value of putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics,” she said in a joint announcement video.

Bloomberg: Katie Hobbs’ Bipartisan Bet Could Pay Off in Arizona

Though rumored for weeks, choosing him as lieutenant governor would still be a surprising act of bipartisanship in an era otherwise defined by extreme political polarization.
Hobbs seems to be playing the long game, and the implications could be profound — both for her campaign and for Democrats’ ability to keep election deniers out of power.
As political consultant Kevin DeMenna told the Arizona Republic: “If you were looking for the middle of the Arizona electorate for this upcoming general, John Giles is standing there.”
Republican political strategist Mike Madrid suspects that Hobbs adding Giles as running mate for lieutenant governor could go an especially long way toward winning over the state’s Latino voters, who have soured on Trump and represent roughly a quarter of the electorate.
Democratic political strategist Stacy Pearson called teaming up with Giles “a really good approach.”

NBC News: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former Republican as running mate in re-election bid

“Now, for the first time in our state’s history, we are electing a governor and lieutenant governor on the same ticket. And the first thing I looked for in a running mate was someone who shares that value of putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics,” Hobbs said.
Giles said, “I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an independent because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done.”

The Hill: Katie Hobbs taps former Republican mayor as running mate

Giles said in the video that he was “proud” to be named Hobb’s [sic] No. 2 pick and sought to court Republicans and independents, noting he is a former GOP-turned-independent himself “because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done.”

People Magazine: Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs Chooses Former Republican as Her Running Mate in Heated Reelection Bid

Hobbs and Giles filmed a joint announcement video where Hobbs touted her economic policies, support for public safety and focus on securing the border before introducing her unexpected pick for lieutenant governor.

Arizona Republic: Katie Hobbs officially picks ex-Republican John Giles as running mate

Giles, the former mayor of Mesa, was a Republican for decades before he changed his voter registration earlier this year, leaving the GOP to be unaffiliated with any political party.
Giles could help Hobbs grow that margin this year by appealing to moderate GOP and independent voters.
Giles said in an Aug. 11 statement provided by the campaign he was “honored to join Katie Hobbs on this historic ticket because we share the belief that leadership is about bringing people together and getting results.”

Arizona Mirror: Katie Hobbs names John Giles as her running mate in a play for crossover voters

Chuck Coughlin, a veteran lobbyist and political consultant who has worked on multiple Republican gubernatorial campaigns, told the Arizona Mirror that he thinks Giles is “a great pick” for lieutenant governor.
“The guy’s a genuinely nice person,” Coughlin said. “He was elected mayor in Mesa twice. He’s well regarded amongst the non-partisan element of the state as a problem solver. And he sees the Republican Party for its dysfunction today and decided to leave.”
“I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an Independent because extremists shouldn’t stand in the way of getting things done,” Giles said in the video.
He touted his background of revitalizing Mesa’s downtown, improving public education and bringing more businesses to the city.

KTAR: Political consultant calls Hobbs-Giles ticket ‘good strategy decision’ aimed at McCain Republicans

Political consultant Stan Barnes of Copper State Consulting called it a smart strategic move.
“I think, in the net, it’s a good decision. It’s a good strategy decision. I think it’s actually going to pay off for the Hobbs campaign,” Barnes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.
Barnes said the pick is designed to reach a specific slice of the electorate: Republicans who have grown uncomfortable with the party’s direction under President Donald Trump but aren’t naturally inclined to vote Democrat.
Ultimately, Barnes believes the race will come down to a thin margin, which is where the Giles pick can make a big difference.

Arizona Capitol Times: Hobbs makes it official: Former Mesa Mayor John Giles is her pick for lieutenant governor

Many political observers see Giles as a smart choice for Hobbs’ ticket, which needs to appeal to Arizona’s growing bloc of independent voters. The governor launched an “Arizona Over Party” coalition on Aug. 4, touting support from over 50 local leaders — both Republican and independent.

KJZZ: Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs officially picks former Republican John Giles as her running mate

Giles served as Mesa mayor between 2014 and 2025. Though the position is technically non-partisan, he was a well known member of the Republican Party during his tenure.
In the announcement video, Giles emphasized his efforts as mayor to bring in businesses, redevelop the downtown area and work with local school districts.

Axios Phoenix: Hobbs picks former GOP Mesa Mayor Giles as her running mate

Republicans have a substantial voter registration advantage in Arizona, and Hobbs must appeal to center-right voters and independents if she wants to win a second term.

News 4 Tucson: Gov. Hobbs names pick for Lieutenant Governor

In a new digital video, Hobbs introduces Giles as a leader who shares her commitment to putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics and delivering real results. A lifelong Republican before becoming an Independent, Giles highlights his record of bringing people together to solve problems as mayor of Mesa and explains why he’s joining the ticket to keep Arizona moving forward.

KYMA: Gov. Katie Hobbs names former Mesa mayor as running mate

In a post to social media Tuesday, Gov. Hobbs wrote, “Arizona deserves leaders who put our state ahead of partisan politics. That’s why I’m proud to have former Mesa Mayor [John Giles] by my side as my pick for Lieutenant Governor. Together, we’ll put Arizona first, deliver real results, and keep moving our state forward.”

Reagan Priest: