By Madeline Bates
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The Arizona governor’s race now has four qualifying candidates on the ballot for November and a plethora of issues that will sway voters their way. Gov. Katie Hobbs, the incumbent, was less than 50,000 votes ahead of Republican challenger Andy Biggs in the July 21 primary. Both Biggs and Hobbs are the first to have announced running mates for Arizona’s first lieutenant governor to serve alongside the victorious candidate.

Katie Hobbs

Gov. Katie Hobbs has served her first term as governor and has now named John Giles as her running mate. Giles, the former mayor of Mesa, has previously been critical of the Trump Administration and endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential run.

In the primary, Hobbs gained over half a million votes but was ahead of Biggs by around 60,000 votes. Issues like the Colorado River agreement, Empowerment Scholarship Vouchers, and affordability are priorities for the Hobbs Administration.

Hobbs is not expected to participate in a debate between Republican Andy Biggs, No Labels candidate Teri Ann Hourihan, and Green Party candidate Risa Lombardo. During her last campaign season, she also did not attend debates against Republican candidate Kari Lake.

Andy Biggs

Biggs has been backed by President Donald Trump since his days in Congress as the two began their days in Washington in 2017, with Biggs serving his first term in Congress representing District 5 where he will serve until 2027. Biggs also received an early endorsement from Trump at the beginning of his gubernatorial campaign.

Now, as the Republican candidate for governor, his campaign is keen on criticizing Gov. Hobbs and her actions regarding the Colorado River, ESA vouchers.

Biggs has chosen Sine Kerr, a dairy farmer and former member of the Arizona Senate, as his running mate. Kerr was appointed by the Trump Administration in 2025 to serve as the executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, though it is unknown when she left the position and why.

TeriAnn Hourihan

After taking on the highly funded Hugh Lytle in the No Labels party primary, TeriAnn Hourihan won the candidacy with over 5,500 votes. Hourihan earned her doctorate in counseling in 2018 and has owned and operated a behavioral health private practice since 2017.

Her views lean to both sides, with strong stances on health care and affordability.

“I will remain grassroots from start to finish and will always be for the people and only the people,” she said on her campaign website.

She has not yet announced a running mate. 

Risa Lombardo

Though not supported by the party, Risa Lombardo is the qualified Green Party candidate for Arizona governor, having earned fewer than 600 votes in total in the primary.

In April, Independent Newsmedia received a message from candidate Gary Swing, running for Arizona’s 6th Congressional district, that stated “Risa Lombardo and Duwayne Collier are unknown to the leadership of the Arizona Green Party.”

Lombardo has not been endorsed by the party but says on her campaign website that she’s running because “neither party seems interested or capable of fixing the problems we face.”

Lombardo also has not announced a running mate.

Early voting for all candidates begins Oct. 7. All ballots need to be returned by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 to count toward the race. 

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.