Eli Crane Narrowly Wins Reelection to Arizona's 2nd District

Republican Representative Eli Crane won reelection to Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, defeating Democratic challenger and former Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez. The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ called the race on Monday, nearly a week after Election Day, with Crane securing 49.7% of the vote to Nez's 48.5%.

Crane, a former Navy SEAL and member of the House Freedom Caucus, maintained his seat by a margin of approximately 4,000 votes, or just over 2%. This result represents a significant narrowing of the gap from the 2024 general election, where Crane defeated Nez by nine percentage points. Nez focused his campaign on affordability and economic frustrations, attracting more national funding in this rematch than in his previous attempt.

While Crane secured a third term, the broader political environment in Arizona shifted toward the Democratic Party. Democrats flipped two U.S. House seats to establish a 5-to-4 majority in the state's congressional delegation and won control of the Arizona Legislature for the first time since 1966. Analysts attributed the narrow GOP victory in the 2nd District to voter dissatisfaction with the cost of living, the economy, and U.S. involvement in the Iran war.