Who's running in Arizona's 2nd congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Eli Crane currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Border security and immigration enforcement.
Cutting federal spending, reflected in his 100% lifetime Club for Growth rating.
Second Amendment rights.
Opposition to diversity programmes in the military.
Support for President Trump's agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 2nd District since January 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 54.5% against Jonathan Nez.
Former United States Navy SEAL; founder of Bottle Breacher.
Member of the House Freedom Caucus; one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023.
In July 2023 referred to Black Americans as "colored people" during a House floor debate on military diversity; he said he had misspoken, was formally rebuked on the floor, and said he deeply regretted the remark.
Won the July 21, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Lives in Oro Valley, a Tucson suburb outside the district.
Arguments in favor
He has President Trump, the Club for Growth PAC and Turning Point Action behind him, was unopposed for renomination, and holds a 100% lifetime Club for Growth rating.
— Donald Trump endorsement; Club for Growth PAC and Turning Point Action endorsements
He beat the same opponent by nine points in 2024 in a district the Cook Political Report rates R+7, and the race is rated likely Republican — the incumbent goes into the rematch on favourable ground.
— 2024 results; Cook Political Report
Arguments against
Nez says he "voted to gut Arizonans' health care and take food off our tables — all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires" in a district where nearly a third of residents rely on Medicaid, and that he voted to end funding for tribal radio stations including KUYI and KGHR, which get about half their budgets from public funds.
— Jonathan Nez campaign, July 2025
Nez also argues he is absent from the district he represents: "Crane resides in the wealthy Tucson suburb of Oro Valley and has never lived in the district he represents."
— Jonathan Nez campaign
What we couldn’t verify
The 2023 "colored people" remark predates this cycle and no 2026 opponent has raised it; it is recorded in his record rather than presented as an argument.
No verified campaign website could be read: the domain matching his campaign name is behind a challenge page.
Water rights and water security for northern Arizona and tribal communities.
Protecting Medicaid, on which nearly a third of the district relies.
Rural infrastructure and economic development.
Funding for tribal radio and public media.
Representation for a district that is nearly a fifth Native American.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
President of the Navajo Nation from 2019 to 2023; lost re-election to Buu Nygren in 2022 by about five points, which he attributed to his pandemic restrictions.
Democratic nominee for this district in 2024, taking 45.5% — about six points ahead of the Democratic presidential ticket in the district.
Grew up in Shonto on his family's ranch without electricity or running water.
Won the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed.
Arguments in favor
He has both Arizona senators, Attorney General Kris Mayes, former interior secretary Deb Haaland, eight current and former House members and the DCCC's Red to Blue programme behind him, along with the Human Rights Campaign and the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
— Endorsements from the officials and organisations named
He over-performed the top of his party's ticket by roughly six points here in 2024 — losing by nine in a district that went fifteen points the other way at the presidential level — which is why national Democrats put the seat on their target list.
— 2024 results; Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Districts in Play
Arguments against
The Cook Political Report rates the district R+7 and the race likely Republican, and the 2024 result he is trying to reverse was a nine-point loss against the same incumbent.
— Cook Political Report; 2024 results
AZ Free News notes Democrats have not won this district in nine attempts and that Crane beat Nez by nine points only two years ago; Democratic strategists themselves describe the seat as a reach.
— AZ Free News; Democratic strategists quoted on the DCCC target list
What we couldn’t verify
The electoral-history argument comes from a conservative Arizona outlet; no NRCC material naming Nez was found.
He lost the Navajo Nation presidency in 2022, which he attributes to his pandemic curfews and distancing rules. No opponent in this race has raised it, so it is recorded rather than presented as an argument.
Fundraising figures for the general election were not found in the material available.
Libertarian Party positions on limited government and individual liberty.
Offering a third choice in a district both major parties are contesting.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Won the July 21, 2026 Libertarian primary for this district.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Goodwin by name could be found — not from either major-party campaign, not from a party committee, and not in Arizona news coverage — and no published case for him beyond the party's nomination. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either.
No campaign website, biography, platform, fundraising figures or endorsements could be found.
His occupation and background are not recorded in the sources available.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Arizona held its primaries on July 21, 2026. Three candidates appear on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Eli Crane, Democrat Jonathan Nez and Libertarian Curtis Goodwin. Both major-party candidates were unopposed for their nominations. This is a rematch of 2024, when Crane won 54.5% to 45.5%. The district covers much of northeastern Arizona — Prescott, Flagstaff and most of the Navajo Nation — and is about a fifth Native American. The Cook Political Report gives it a partisan lean of R+7 and rates the race likely Republican; the DCCC has placed it on its Districts in Play list.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Arizona ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.