PHOENIX (AP) — Republican Eli Crane has won reelection in a Republican-leaning congressional district that covers large swaths of rural Arizona.
Crane faced a stiff challenge from Democrat Jonathan Nez, the former president of the Navajo Nation, in the 2nd District race. Nez vied to become the first Native American to represent Arizona in Congress.
The district covers much of northeastern Arizona and extends south to the northern suburbs of Tucson. It includes 14 of the 22 federally recognized tribes within the state.
Crane, a former Navy SEAL who served in the military for 13 years, is a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and a close ally of Donald Trump. He was one of eight U.S. Republicans in the House of Representatives who voted to remove Representative Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House in 2023.
Crane focused on securing the U.S.-Mexico border and supporting military veterans. Nez campaigned largely on securing water rights and meeting the needs of rural residents.
In 2022, Crane unseated three-term Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran after the rural district was redrawn to become significantly more conservative.
Nez served as president of the Navajo Nation from 2019 to 2023, after serving four years as the tribe’s vice president. Nez lost in his 2022 presidential re-election bid. He previously served as Navajo County supervisor and Navajo Nation Council delegate.
Of Arizona’s nine representatives in Congress, six are Republicans and three are Democrats.
