Political consultant calls Hobbs-Giles ticket ‘good strategy decision’ aimed at McCain Republicans

Gov. Katie Hobbs confirmed Tuesday she has chosen former Mesa Mayor John Giles, a former Republican turned unaffiliated, as her running mate for reelection, thus completing the Democratic gubernatorial ticket and setting up Arizona’s first race involving lieutenant governors.

The cross-party pick is part of Hobbs’ “Arizona Over Party” strategy as she faces Donald Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Andy Biggs and his running mate, former state Sen. Sine Kerr, in November.

Political consultant Stan Barnes of Copper State Consulting called it a smart strategic move.

“I think, in the net, it’s a good decision. It’s a good strategy decision. I think it’s actually going to pay off for the Hobbs campaign,” Barnes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.

Could Katie Hobbs picking John Giles help her appeal to centrist Republicans?

Barnes said the pick is designed to reach a specific slice of the electorate: Republicans who have grown uncomfortable with the party’s direction under President Donald Trump but aren’t naturally inclined to vote Democrat.

“The Giles addition is aimed right at the McCain constituency. It’s aimed right at that Republican that has not been happy since we became a Trump Republican Party,” Barnes said.

That voter, Barnes explained, is politically homeless: unwilling to back Biggs but not ready to default to Hobbs on their own.

“That person is looking for a home. They’re not naturally going to go with Katie Hobbs because they’re not naturally Democrats, but they’re reluctant to support Biggs because they think he’s maybe too Trump, and they still got scar tissue about that whole thing,” Barnes said. “So, Giles is supposed to make them feel better about going this direction.”

Barnes, who is a Mesa native and still lives in Giles’ former territory, said he has watched the divide among East Valley Republicans firsthand. He called it the “Flake-Giles divide,” a reference to the wing of the party aligned with former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, who similarly broke with Trump.

“Giles, as a profile person, decided to lean into it,” Barnes said. “He spoke at the Democratic National Convention, you know, all of that kind of thing. So, that gives Katie Hobbs cover to say, ‘He’s my guy, even though he’s not a lifelong Democrat.'”

Ultimately, Barnes believes the race will come down to a thin margin, which is where the Giles pick can make a big difference.

“There’s a narrow window of voter, a narrow universe of voters that are there that’s really going to decide this election,” Barnes said. “It’s going to be close, and the Giles pick is designed to speak to that voter directly.”

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