Voters to elect first AZ lieutenant governor; what to know

You decide for the first time ever, Arizonans are preparing to elect a governor and lieutenant governor on a joint ticket, and both campaigns are making their move. So according to the New York Times, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs is tapping former Mesa Mayor John Giles to run alongside her. Giles is a registered Republican, or at least was. Now, that news comes on the heels of Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs announcing his running mate, former state senator and Trump administration USDA official Sina Kerr. So to break down what this brand new office actually means for Arizona voters, political analyst Chuck Coughlin joining us on set here this morning. Chuck, good morning. This is kind of interesting that we're going to have a governor and a lieutenant governor for the first time. I did a little research. We were one of like only five states that did not have a lieutenant governor. So why did voters, you think, want to have a governor and lieutenant governor? Well, it's happened quite frequently in Arizona history. I think it's I think Governor Ducey was the first governor to complete his term since the early 60s. So this has been a well-worn path. Governor Brewer back in the 90s put something on the ballot to create the office. Voters defeated it. And then lo and behold, she becomes the governor because we don't have. So J.D. Messner, a legislator from Chandler, put this on the ballot and voters approved it. And so it's fixed this succession problem of, you know, when you when when a governor leaves and you have a secretary of state of another party, that's a huge shakeup. Sure. So the governor should have some authority on succession where it can keep that governor's policies moving forward. Let me ask you, now that we have this lieutenant governor going forward, what will that position look like? I think that's a really interesting question because we're really going down this path for the first time. And so I think the number one qualification will be don't make it worse. Right. Don't do something to upset the boss. Sure. Very much like the vice presidency that we have in the country. It's sort of an amorphous position right now. But what it will do, what what the law says it can do is this person can be the governor's chief of staff. It can be the head of the department administration, which is sort of the guts of state government or any other appointed position that the governor can. But they they have to be in one of these appointed positions so the governor can define that. And then then I think the governor and the relationship between the lieutenant governor will actually define how this rolls out. Well, seeing as we're in uncharted territory, will it be up to whoever comes into office to kind of figure out which roles will that lieutenant governor take? Yeah. That's exactly right. The statute is sort of broad, OK, and it was meant to be that way to give the governor flexibility but create a succession plan. And so that's what's going to happen. This is sort of a Arizona one on one experience here of making history. We've got about a minute left, but I wanted to kind of get your opinion, obviously, New York Times doing some reporting saying that Governor Katie Hobbs tapping John Giles, former Mesa mayor who was a Republican on her ticket and on the other side, Andy Biggs, a gubernatorial candidate for the Republicans. Tapping Sina Kerr. What are your what are your thoughts on both of those picks? Generally speaking, I think the governor's pick of the ex mayor of Mesa is a good pick because it allows her to broaden her base of support out and give people a different texture of what that administration will look like. A mayor is a nonpartisan position. He's been a successful mayor of Mesa, very conservative East Valley City. And so it allows that to have a different texture. I don't think Mr. Biggs really expanded the opportunity of to see his ticket. Freedom Caucus member, you know, conservative East Valley district picked Sina Kerr, whose agricultural background and Buckeye, deeply red place. So I don't think he really took the opportunity to. Andy Biggs is who Andy Biggs is. He's a Freedom Caucus guy. Very conservative Republican picked a pick, pick somebody who reflects those values. All right. Well, Chuck, we appreciate you coming in. Some insight into all of this, and I'm sure we'll be tapping you here again very shortly. Thank you. Pleasure.