Republican Rep. Eli Crane narrowly won a third term in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, surviving a surprisingly close rematch with former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
The Associated Press called the race Nov. 9, nearly a week after ballots were cast, Fox News reported. Arizona’s unofficial results showed Crane with 49.7% to Nez’s 48.5%, a margin of fewer than 4,000 votes with about 99% counted.
The outcome was far closer than the district’s recent results suggested. Crane defeated Nez by about nine percentage points in 2024, while President Donald Trump carried the district by roughly 15 points that year. The lead changed hands several times as counties processed ballots. The final margin remained outside Arizona’s 0.5% threshold for an automatic recount.
Crane, a former Navy SEAL and House Freedom Caucus member, has represented the district since January 2023. He thanked rural Arizona voters and said he would continue “fighting against the status quo in Congress,” while praising Nez for running again. Nez had not conceded when the race was called.
The mostly rural district stretches across much of northern and eastern Arizona and includes the Navajo Nation and 13 other tribal nations. Nez campaigned on lowering housing and health care costs, improving rural infrastructure and protecting water and food security. He sought to become Arizona’s first Native American member of Congress.
Crane’s victory preserved one of three Republican-held Arizona seats that became unexpectedly competitive during a strong year for Democrats. The state’s U.S. House delegation will shift from a 6-3 Republican advantage to a 5-4 Democratic majority after Democrats flipped the 1st and 6th districts.
Crane will return to Washington in January for his third term.
