Former Navajo President Jonathan Nez Launches Second Bid for Arizona Congressional District

Former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has announced his second campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Eli Crane in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District. Nez, a Democrat, previously lost to Crane in 2024 by about 9 percentage points but performed strongly in tribal-heavy northern counties and outperformed other Democratic candidates in the district. If elected, Nez would become the first Native American member of Congress from Arizona, a state with 14 Tribal Nations and a district that is nearly 20% Indigenous. Nez emphasizes his leadership on issues like water security, economic development, and rural infrastructure, contrasting with Crane, who resides outside the district and has been criticized for supporting policies that Nez says harm working families and tribal communities. The district is large and conservative, encompassing much of northern and eastern Arizona, and includes a significant Native American population. Nez's campaign builds on grassroots support and aims to appeal broadly, including to rural and tribal voters, while framing the race as a fight against policies promoting resource extraction and cuts to essential services.