Meet Candidates Vying for Arizona’s Competitive House Seats
Three competitive Arizona House races have set their general election matchups after Tuesday's primaries, with Republicans defending two swing seats crucial to chamber control.
The state’s 1st Congressional District is now an open seat after incumbent Representative David Schweikert opted to run for governor instead of seeking reelection to the House, according to Washington Examiner. Schweikert’s gubernatorial bid ended in defeat to Representative Andy Biggs in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Republicans hold two Arizona swing seats under Democratic scrutiny, while the party’s 2nd District seat represents a longer-shot Democratic target as the GOP braces for what analysts project could be a challenging midterm environment.
1st District: Feely to Face Shah in Scottsdale Battleground
Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker and CBS broadcaster, secured his party’s nomination with 49.8% of the primary vote after defeating former Arizona state Representative Joseph Chaplik. Feely carried President Donald Trump’s endorsement into the primary contest.
On the Democratic side, former state representative Amish Shah prevailed over Marlene Galan-Woods, an establishment-backed former broadcast journalist, by approximately six percentage points. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee invested roughly $500,000 in joint advertising with Galan-Woods, while additional outside groups poured nearly $3 million into supporting her candidacy.
Shah previously challenged Schweikert in 2024, falling just short in that contest. The Scottsdale-based district went for Trump by roughly three points in 2024.
2nd District: Crane and Nez Set for Rematch
Representative Eli Crane will face a rematch against former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in the sprawling 2nd District, which spans from Flagstaff and Prescott southward toward Phoenix and encompasses 12 Native American reservations.
Crane has established himself as a prominent voice within the Republican Party’s conservative wing since entering Congress, notably playing a key role in the successful 2023 effort to remove then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy from leadership.
Nez commands strong support among the district’s Native American communities, which comprise roughly one in five residents according to Arizona redistricting data. Both candidates advanced through uncontested primaries Tuesday.
The two previously met in 2024, when Crane defeated Nez by nine points in a district that Vice President Kamala Harris lost by 15 points. Despite currently receiving less national attention, both candidates have demonstrated formidable fundraising capabilities, suggesting the race could become costly as November approaches.
6th District: Ciscomani Defends Border Seat Against Mendoza
Representative Juan Ciscomani will square off against Marine veteran JoAnna Mendoza in what analysts consider one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts, encompassing Tucson’s northern suburbs and a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Ciscomani, first elected in 2022, was born in Mexico and became a naturalized American citizen in 2006. Trump has endorsed the incumbent in his contest against Mendoza, a political newcomer and former drill instructor.
The district represents extremely tight electoral territory—Trump carried it by less than one point in 2024, while Republicans narrowly lost the seat in 2020.
With information from Washington Examiner
