# @downinnadesert on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DbrOsHeD9vr
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68801272-downinnadesert-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2aaecc9423.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-05T22:38:02.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Down In The Desert🌵 (@downinnadesert) — https://gondola.cc/downinnadesert

## Caption

Arizona is about to have a lieutenant governor for the first time in state history, and the first one could be a former Republican running alongside a Democrat.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Gov. Katie Hobbs plans to pick former Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate. Giles served as Mesa’s mayor from 2014 to 2025 and was a longtime Republican before changing his voter registration to No Party Preference earlier this year. He endorsed Hobbs in 2022, endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, spoke at the Democratic National Convention that year and endorsed Hobbs again this year. The report has not been officially confirmed. Hobbs’ campaign has declined to confirm the pick, and Giles has not publicly commented. 

On the other side of the ballot, Republican nominee Rep. Andy Biggs has already chosen former state Sen. Sine Kerr, a Buckeye farmer and conservative Republican, as his running mate. His campaign responded to reports about Giles shortly after they were published. 

The bigger story is what this means for Arizona. Voters approved Proposition 131 in 2022, creating the office of lieutenant governor beginning with this election. Before now, the secretary of state was generally first in line to succeed the governor if the office became vacant. Starting this November, Arizonans will vote for governor and lieutenant governor together on the same ticket. 

The timeline is also tight. While state law allows candidates to be named into early September, Maricopa County has said it needs the final names by August 19 to keep ballot printing on schedule. 

Arizona has never had a lieutenant governor before. What do you think the job should actually do?

Via: AZFamily, The New York Times, 12News, KTAR and KJZZ

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#Arizona #Phoenix #Mesa #ArizonaPolitics #DownInnaDesert

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## Tags

arizonapolitics, mesa, arizona, phoenix, downinnadesert

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