Republican Congressman Eli Crane, a Navy SEAL veteran, has narrowly held onto his Arizona House seat in a hard-fought rematch against Democrat Jonathan Nez, even as Democrats flipped two other congressional districts and took full control of the state legislature.
With all votes counted, Crane secured 49.6% of the vote to Nez’s 48.5% in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District – a margin of less than 4,000 votes. The Associated Press called the race for Crane on Monday, marking his third consecutive victory in the district.
Close Rematch for Navy Veteran
The 2026 race proved significantly tighter than Crane’s previous matchups. In 2024, he defeated Nez by 10 percentage points, and in his first campaign two years prior, he bested Democrat Tom O’Halleran by 8 points.
“I’ll work with anyone to get things done for AZ-02,” Crane tweeted after his victory was called. “But I’ll also stand in the way of anyone trying to move this country in the wrong direction.”
Democratic Gains Across Arizona
While Crane held his ground, Democrats made significant gains elsewhere in Arizona. They flipped two Republican-held congressional seats – the 1st District where Amish Shah defeated former NFL kicker Jay Feely, and the 6th District where JoAnna Mendoza unseated incumbent Juan Ciscomani.
The party also achieved a historic trifecta in state government, winning control of both legislative chambers and retaining the governor’s office. This marks the first time Democrats have held complete control of Arizona’s government since 1966.
Shifting Political Landscape
The results reduce Arizona’s Republican congressional delegation from six seats to four out of nine total. Democrats now hold all statewide offices including governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee celebrated the Arizona results as part of a broader midterm success story that saw the party gain new trifectas in several swing states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Crane’s ability to hold his district against the Democratic wave may position him as a rising star in the GOP, even as his party faces new challenges in what was once reliably Republican Arizona.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com โ https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/11/breaking-gop-navy-seal-vet-holds-house-seat/