Democrat JoAnna Mendoza defeated Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, flipping one of the nation’s most competitive U.S. House seats.
[CALLING OUTLET] projected Mendoza as the winner at [TIME] [DAY], with [PERCENT]% of ballots tabulated. Arizona’s unofficial results showed Mendoza with [MENDOZA%] to Ciscomani’s [CISCOMANI%], a margin of [VOTES] votes. The totals remain subject to additional counting and the state canvass.
Mendoza, a retired Marine Corps drill instructor and Navy veteran, campaigned on protecting health care and food assistance, lowering household costs and restoring what she described as accountable local representation. She grew up in Eloy in a farmworker family and previously worked for Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran.
Ciscomani was seeking a third term in a district that stretches across parts of Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties, including eastern Tucson and several southeastern Arizona communities. A former adviser to Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, he first won the newly drawn seat in 2022 and defended it in another close race in 2024.
The campaign centered on affordability, health care, immigration and the candidates’ relationships with President Donald Trump. Ciscomani emphasized border security, constituent service and a bipartisan record. Mendoza criticized his support for major Republican tax and spending legislation, arguing it threatened Medicaid and nutrition programs.
The result continued the district’s pattern of narrow outcomes. Ciscomani won by about 1.5 percentage points in 2022 and roughly 2.5 points in 2024, while Trump carried the district by less than one point in the 2024 presidential race.
Mendoza’s victory gave Democrats a key pickup in their campaign for control of the House. She will take office in January as a member of the 120th Congress.
