Katie Hobbs won’t rule out Republican as her pick for Arizona’s 1st lieutenant governor

Gov. Katie Hobbs said Tuesday she would not rule out a Republican from consideration as her running mate in November, when Arizona voters will for the first time elect a lieutenant governor.

“I will not exclude somebody simply because of their party,” Hobbs said during an “Ask the Governor” segment on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos. “What I’m focused on is someone who shares my approach to governing, is going to focus on Arizona first, not party first.”

Arizonans voted to create the position in 2022 by passing Proposition 131. The lieutenant governor will replace the secretary of state as the person who succeeds the governor.

Hobbs declined to confirm reports that she asked Jimmy McCain, the son of the late Sen. John McCain, to join the ticket. Meghan McCain told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday that her brother has no interest in entering politics.

“I’m not going to get into the internal processes and who I have or haven’t asked,” she said.

Republican opponent Andy Biggs, who won the GOP primary last week with 74% of the vote, must also select a running mate before a Sept. 4 deadline.

Hobbs said the role was loosely defined in the ballot measure and that being first gives her the chance to “set the tone and the stage.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM editor Serena O’Sullivan contributed to this report.

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