Who's running in Arizona's 5th congressional district
2 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.
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Border security and immigration enforcement, the basis of his national profile.
Support for law enforcement, reflected in his Arizona Police Association endorsement.
Cutting federal spending, reflected in his Club for Growth backing.
Second Amendment rights.
Support for President Trump's agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Sheriff of Pinal County from 2017 to 2024; candidate for the United States Senate in 2024.
Won the July 21, 2026 Republican primary with 52,352 votes (58.7%) against Daniel Keenan, who put more than $1.5 million of his own money into the race.
The Arizona Republic reported after a months-long investigation that several women allege he sent explicit messages and nude photographs and then used threats or intimidation to conceal it, initiated sexual encounters involving himself, his wife and others, and made a racist joke in messages with a border activist. He denies the allegations.
Has not held federal office.
Arguments in favor
He has the Republican leadership behind him — President Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Arizona colleagues Eli Crane and Paul Gosar — plus the Club for Growth, the Freedom Caucus Fund, Turning Point Action and the Arizona Police Association.
— Endorsements from the officials and organisations named
He won the primary by seventeen points against an opponent who spent more than $1.5 million of his own money, and comes to the race with eight years running a county sheriff's office and a national profile on border security.
— July 2026 primary results; his record as Pinal County sheriff
Arguments against
The Arizona Republic's months-long investigation reported allegations from several women that he sent explicit messages and nude photographs and then used threats or intimidation to cover it up, initiated sexual encounters involving himself and his wife and others, and made a racist joke in messages with a border activist. One woman said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concealed her complaint after she reported his behaviour to church leaders.
— The Arizona Republic investigation, 2026
He also faces claims that he does not live in the district he is seeking to represent, which were raised during the Republican primary.
— Reported during the 2026 Republican primary by CBS News and the Arizona Republic
What we couldn’t verify
The misconduct allegations are allegations. Lamb's campaign denies them; his wife called the reporting "a massive smear campaign." No charge has been brought and no finding made, and the specific residency claim was not resolved in the sources found.
Republican primary voters knew of the allegations and nominated him anyway, by seventeen points.
No Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material naming Lamb was found; the district is not a Democratic target.
Honest government and refusing corporate PAC money.
Health care, argued from her nursing career.
Listening to constituents' lived experience as the basis for legislating.
Building coalitions across party lines.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Nurse, consultant and health care advocate.
Holds a bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University (2005) and a nursing associate degree from Carrington College (2013).
Won the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary with 30,857 votes (66.0%) against Chris James and Brian Hualde.
Has raised about $148,000 for the cycle and refuses corporate PAC contributions.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
She won two-thirds of the primary vote in a three-way contest, and runs without corporate PAC money in a race where her opponent is backed by the Club for Growth and the Freedom Caucus Fund.
— July 2026 primary results; her campaign's no-corporate-PAC pledge
Arguments against
She has raised about $148,000 in a district every forecaster rates likely, solid or safe Republican, where the Republican primary alone drew nearly twice as many votes as the Democratic one — 89,206 to 46,731.
— Federal Election Commission filings; July 2026 primary turnout; Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Lee by name could be found — not from Mark Lamb or his campaign, not from the National Republican Congressional Committee, and not in Phoenix-area news coverage; wire coverage of her nomination is purely factual. Searches covered NRCC materials, her name against criticism and opponent terms, and the Arizona Republic, Arizona Mirror, KJZZ and AZ Free News.
Her campaign site does not name her opponent or engage the allegations against him, and her detailed federal policy positions were not published in the material found.
Her only recorded endorsement is from Track AIPAC.
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.
This is an open seat: Republican Andy Biggs, who has held it since 2017, is running for governor. Arizona held its primaries on July 21, 2026. Two candidates appear on the November ballot: Republican Mark Lamb, who took 58.7% of the Republican primary vote, and Democrat Elizabeth Lee, who took 66.0% of the Democratic primary. The district covers the East Valley — Gilbert and parts of Chandler and Mesa — and forecasters rate it likely, solid or safe Republican.
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.