Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona’s Second Congressional District has won a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democratic challenger Jonathan Nez by a margin of 3,834 votes, according to the Associated Press. The race was called on November 9, with Crane securing 49.64 percent of the vote to Nez’s 48.47 percent. Libertarian candidate Curtis Goodwin received 1.8 percent of the vote.
Crane’s victory marks the fifth Republican win in Arizona’s nine House districts, following closely contested races in the state. The results maintain the GOP’s majority in Arizona’s congressional delegation, with Republicans holding four seats and Democrats three. Two additional seats were flipped by Democrats in other districts.
The contest was a rematch of the 2022 election, when Crane first won the seat by defeating then-Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.) in a redrawn district. Nez, a former president of the Navajo Nation, sought to unseat Crane in both cycles. Neither candidate responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Crane, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, has represented the district since January 2023. His campaign emphasized his military background and opposition to what he described as a “status quo” in Congress. In a post-election statement, Crane thanked supporters and reiterated his commitment to opposing policies he characterized as detrimental to the country. “Both parties have been driving this country into the ground for decades,” he said.
Nez had previously urged patience as votes were counted, emphasizing the importance of every ballot in a large, geographically dispersed district. His campaign framed the race as a choice between competing visions for Arizona’s future, though no further statements were issued following the race call.
Arizona’s congressional delegation shifts slightly with Crane’s win, as Republicans now hold a 4-3 advantage in the state’s House seats. The broader midterm results saw Democrats flip two additional districts, including Arizona’s First and Sixth Congressional Districts, while Republicans retained control of the delegation overall.
The Second Congressional District, which includes parts of northern and eastern Arizona, remains a politically competitive area. The district’s boundaries were redrawn ahead of the 2022 elections, contributing to the tight margins in recent races.