Hobbs Selects John Giles as Running Mate for Lieutenant Governor

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, selected John Giles, the former Republican mayor of Mesa who has since become an independent, as her running mate for the newly created office of lieutenant governor, according to reporting published in early August 2026. This selection comes amid Hobbs's reelection campaign, described as competitive. Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Andy Biggs has also named a running mate for the same lieutenant governor position, though that individual is not identified in available reporting. Separately, according to a statement from the Office of the Arizona Governor, Hobbs signed HB2072 on April 1, 2026, a bill repealing the state's observance of March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. The governor's office stated Hobbs cited being "deeply troubled by the recent revelations about César Chávez" as a reason for signing the repeal, while also pledging continued support for Arizona's farmworker community. These two events are reported through different sources and pertain to distinct governmental actions occurring roughly four months apart. Because these two reports describe unrelated developments — a running-mate selection and a legislative signing — the available reporting does not establish any connection between them. Additional details, including the identity of Biggs's selected running mate, the specific 'revelations' referenced regarding Chavez, and any public or political reaction to either action, are not corroborated across independent sources and remain unresolved based on the supplied materials.