Democrat 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,” the Washington Post reports.

“Hobbs chose John Giles, the former mayor of Mesa who was a lifelong Republican until he switched to be an independent this year. Giles cut his GOP tie recently, but he had crossed party lines even before disavowing the affiliation, most notably in 2024 when he endorsed Kamala Harris.”

“Choosing an independent running mate is a gambit Hobbs hopes will lift her to a second gubernatorial term in a purple state with a Republican-controlled legislature. Hobbs is widely seen as the Democratic state executive most in jeopardy because nearly all the other competitive governor’s races are open seats.”