Former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a lifelong Republican, announced last week that he is endorsing Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs for re-election.
Giles made the announcement in a video posted to Hobbs’ YouTube page.
Giles, who served as Mesa’s mayor from 2014 to 2025, said Hobbs demonstrated “real leadership” and pointed to her bipartisan record.
“She’s demonstrated that real leadership is about working across the aisle, bringing people together, and delivering results,” Giles said in the video. “Whether it’s cutting taxes, lowering costs, or securing the border, that’s why I’m endorsing Katie. She will always put Arizona over partisan politics.”
Hobbs is running for a second term, touting her bipartisan record focused on canceling medical debt, lowering costs, and border enforcement. During her term, Hobbs has worked with Republicans to negotiate multiple bipartisan state budgets and signed hundreds of pieces of bipartisan legislation into law.
Giles also endorsed Hobbs in her 2022 gubernatorial run against Republican Kari Lake.
In his endorsement video, Giles criticized Republican Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert), the Republican frontrunner for the party’s nomination for governor, as too partisan for the job.
“Real leadership means bringing people together to solve problems. After years in Washington, Andy Biggs has become part of the problem,” Giles said. “He’s too focused on hyper partisan politics instead of delivering for Arizona.”
The state primary will be held on July 21. Republican voters will choose between Trump-backed Biggs or US Rep. David Schweikert (R-Scottsdale) for the gubernatorial nomination. A new poll by Noble Predictive Insights shows Biggs leading with 60% support, compared to 10% for Schweikert, with 26% undecided.
Whoever wins the Republican primary will face Hobbs in the general election in November.
