Gov. Katie Hobbs has tapped Jimmy McCain, the youngest son of the late Sen. John McCain, as her latest pick to the Arizona Board of Regents.
The governor praised McCainâs record as âa veteran, a businessman, and native Arizonan who is passionate about connecting every Arizona community to the education they need to thrive.ââ She also mentioned his military experience, including being a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Hobbs said he also has a connection to the state university system that the board oversees, including that he has a bachelorâs degree and one of his two masterâs degrees from Arizona State University. He now is pursuing a doctorate in education.
McCain
McCain, however, wasnât her first choice for the job.
Last year she had named Liz Archuleta for the seat, which is reserved for someone who lives in Apache, Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo or Yavapai county. Archuleta lives in Flagstaff.
But the Arizona Senate never gave Archuleta a hearing. So in April this year, when Archuleta had served the one year allowed without Senate action, she was forced to quit.
Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, who chaired the Senate Education Committee that normally reviews nominations to the board, referred questions to Senate President Warren Petersen. Petersen has not responded to requests for comment, including on Monday.
Whether McCain might fare better in getting confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate for the slot and the 8-year term to represent northern Arizona remains unclear.
On one hand, he comes from a famous family, with his father, who had been a prison of war in Vietnam, having served as a Republican in Congress for 31 years and as the GOP candidate for president in 2008 against Barack Obama.
But the younger McCain announced a year ago he had registered as a Democrat and said he would vote for Kamala Harris for president.
He said at the time he had been an independent since leaving the GOP in 2016 after Donald Trump became the Republican candidate for president. As to becoming a Democrat, McCain cited an incident by Trump during his 2024 bid for a second term where he was laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, which some said turned into a campaign event.
There also was bad blood with Trump over public comments he made about John McCain, saying he wasnât a war hero. âHe was a war hero because he was captured,ââ Trump said. âI like people who werenât captured.ââ
Jimmyâs mother, Cindy McCain, also had a political run-in with Trump, endorsing Joe Biden for president in 2020, though she has said she remains a registered Republican.
Liliana Soto, press aide to Hobbs, said Jimmy McCainâs decision to change parties had nothing to do with her decision to appoint him.
âJimmy McCain has a strong track record of leadership, collaboration, and service,ââ Soto said. She also said the governor believes he is âcommitted to keeping Arizonaâs universities affordable and innovative.ââ
Soto said that Hobbsâ decision was not based on any belief he will have an easier time getting confirmed than Archuleta. But Soto also said the Democratic governor never got a full explanation from Petersen about the refusal to consider Archuletaâs nomination.
Neither Hobbs nor McCain mentioned any of his political history in the statement released Monday by the Governorâs Office.
McCain said, âAs the regent representing northern Arizona I am excited to help strengthen higher education across our state and ensure that students from every background, especially those in our tribal and rural communities, have access to the educational tools they need to succeed.â
In a separate written statement, Doug Goodyear, who chairs the board, said McCain âbrings a deep understanding of Arizonaâs values and a strong record of public service to our nation.ââ
According to the Governorâs Office, McCain enlisted in the Marines at 17. After four years of active duty and two deployments, he received an honorable discharge in 2010.
Three years later he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Army as an intelligence officer.
