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Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former Republican as running mate in re-election bid
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, has chosen former Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate for the state's first-ever joint gubernatorial and lieutenant governor ticket in the November election.
- Giles, who switched from Republican to independent in May and voted in the Democratic primary, criticized the current Republican Party as extremist and expressed alignment with moderate political values.
- Hobbs emphasizes her bipartisan record, including cutting taxes, securing the border, and repealing Arizona’s total abortion ban, while Giles and other independents and moderate Republicans have joined her coalition for re-election.
- Hobbs faces a competitive race against Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, who has selected former state lawmaker Sine Kerr as his running mate and campaigns on tax cuts and border security with strong support from former President Trump.
- The Cook Political Report rates the Arizona governor’s race as leaning Democratic, reflecting the state's recent swing voting patterns in presidential elections.
