--- title: "Nez vs. Crane: 2026 Arizona’s 2nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-az-02" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Arizona’s 2nd District race: Jonathan Nez (D) vs. Eli Crane (R) Rating: Likely R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 In Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, Republican incumbent Eli Crane faces Democratic nominee Jonathan Nez in a rematch of their 2024 general election matchup, following their primary victories on July 21, 2026. The race hinges on key regional and national issues defining rural and tribal Arizona, including border security, cost of living, water and energy policy, election integrity, and government reform. ## Candidates - **Jonathan Nez** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.jonathannezforaz.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Nez) - **Eli Crane** (Republican, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) ## Issues ### Border security and immigration Salience: high Crane favors strict enforcement, completing the border wall, and Trump-era border policies, whereas Nez advocates comprehensive reform combining modern border security technology with a fair pathway to citizenship. **Jonathan Nez:** Supports comprehensive reform and border technology Nez argues that the broken immigration system harms national security, trade, and community safety. He advocates comprehensive reform combining modern 21st-century technology and additional border personnel with a fair pathway to citizenship for hard-working immigrants. - Advocates comprehensive immigration reform including a fair pathway to citizenship - Calls for increased investment in border security technology and additional border agents and caseworkers - Focuses on stopping human trafficking and the flow of fentanyl across the southern border > “We need comprehensive reform that invests in 21st-century security technology, hires more border agents and caseworkers, and establishes a fair pathway to citizenship.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Nez) **Eli Crane:** Supports border wall and strict enforcement Crane considers the situation at the southern border an invasion and supports codifying President Trump's border security policies into law. He advocates finishing the border wall, hiring more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, and deploying advanced technology to detect illicit fentanyl. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S.5), Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2), and Protecting Our Communities from DUIs Act (H.R. 875) - Voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (H.Res. 863) - Supports completing the southern border wall, hiring more immigration judges, and boosting fentanyl interdiction technology - Endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council > “There is an invasion on our southern border. Eli believes it’s time we gained operational control of our borders and empower border patrol agents.” > — Eli Crane, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) > “Crane is pushing hard to finish the wall, hire more immigration judges, and deploy new technology to detect deadly fentanyl.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Cost of living and economy Salience: high Crane focuses on deregulation, tax elimination on tips and Social Security, and federal spending cuts, while Nez emphasizes targeted measures to lower daily expenses for childcare, housing, groceries, and healthcare. **Jonathan Nez:** Supports targeted cost-cutting for families Nez emphasizes taking commonsense steps to lower basic living expenses for rural families suffering from inflation. His economic focus centers on reducing everyday costs for childcare, housing, groceries, and healthcare. - Prioritizes federal action to cut costs on healthcare, housing, childcare, and groceries - Advocates commonsense economic measures to fight inflation and assist rural families > “Be it child care, housing, groceries, or health care, rural Arizonans are still paying too much for the things they need to live. Jonathan believes we need to take commonsense steps to fight inflation, cut costs, and get Arizona families back on their feet.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Campaign site](https://www.jonathannezforaz.com) **Eli Crane:** Supports tax cuts and spending restraint Crane advocates cutting federal taxes, slashing regulations, and restraining government spending to combat inflation and foster economic growth. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner, he highlights votes for middle-class tax relief and proposals to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits. - Voted for the H.R. 1 reconciliation tax and budget act and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 - Proposes eliminating federal taxes on tips, overtime work, and Social Security benefits while expanding the Child Tax Credit - Opposes excessive federal regulations on local ranchers, farmers, and copper miners > “Eli will fight for lower taxes, less regulation, and pro-growth policies. The more money that Arizonans get to keep in their pockets and the least government involvement, the better.” > — Eli Crane, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) > “Crane voted for the largest middle class tax cut in history, in addition to eliminating tax on tips, overtime, and Social Security, while expanding the Child Tax credit.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Election integrity and voting rights Salience: high Crane advocates nationwide voter ID requirements, ending mail-in balloting, and strict anti-fraud penalties, whereas Nez defends Arizona's mail-in voting system and seeks to safeguard voting access for rural and tribal citizens. **Jonathan Nez:** Protects mail-in voting and election access Nez views democratic participation as a fundamental right and responsibility, strongly opposing efforts to restrict mail-in voting or dismantle election infrastructure. He focuses on protecting voting access on tribal lands and rural communities across northern Arizona. - Opposes partisan restrictions on mail-in balloting and Arizona's election infrastructure - Fights to protect voting rights and accessibility for tribal communities and rural voters > “In Washington, he’ll stand up to partisan attacks on mail-in voting and Arizona’s time-tested election infrastructure.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Nez) **Eli Crane:** Supports strict voter ID and mail-in restrictions Crane stresses strict election integrity measures as vital for preserving the republic. He advocates national voter ID requirements, returning to single-day Election Day voting, ending unregulated mail-in balloting, and imposing harsher penalties for ballot harvesting. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections - Supports banning unregulated mail-out ballots and ending ballot harvesting - Pushes to enact nationwide voter ID requirements and bolster physical polling sites > “Arizona and America must reinstate Election Day voting, bolster polling sites, end unregulated mail-out balloting and enact stronger voter ID laws and stiffer penalties for anyone caught harvesting ballots or found guilty of voter fraud.” > — Eli Crane, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) > “Crane has led the charge to pass national voter ID to ensure only living American citizens vote in our elections.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Environment, water, and energy Salience: medium Crane opposes green energy subsidies and renewable projects in favor of mining and traditional energy, while Nez prioritizes federal climate action, wildfire mitigation, and water resource protection. **Jonathan Nez:** Supports water security and climate action Nez highlights drought, wildfires, and rising temperatures as direct threats to Arizona's future. He is committed to securing state water resources and pursuing environmental policies that ensure sustainable regional growth. - Prioritizes securing Arizona's water future amid ongoing drought - Advocates federal policies to address climate change, wildfires, and extreme temperatures > “Drought, wildfires, and rising temperatures worsen every year. Jonathan is committed to securing Arizona’s water future and making sure our state’s environment can keep up with our growth.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Campaign site](https://www.jonathannezforaz.com) **Eli Crane:** Opposes Green New Deal and supports traditional energy Crane strongly opposes federal green energy initiatives, wind farms, and solar farms in Rural Arizona, characterizing them as unreliable and driving up utility costs. He supports traditional energy, copper mining, protecting local water supplies, and cleaning up abandoned mine sites. - Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1 in the 118th Congress) - Opposes Green New Deal policies, wind projects, and solar development in Rural Arizona - Supports expansion of Arizona's copper industry and cleanup of hazardous abandoned mines > “Eli Crane has a message for the radical environmentalists – their Green New Deal scams are not welcome in Rural Arizona. That includes their wind and solar farms.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Opioid and substance abuse crisis Salience: medium Crane focuses on border interdiction and technology to stop fentanyl trafficking, whereas Nez emphasizes his personal experience with addiction to call for expanded treatment and recovery funding in rural areas. **Jonathan Nez:** Supports expanded treatment resources for addiction Sharing his personal experience overcoming addiction as a young man, Nez calls for dedicated federal funding to treat the opioid crisis in rural and tribal communities. He criticizes federal neglect and demands resources for prevention and recovery. - Cites personal background overcoming addiction as a core perspective - Pushes for federal funding and treatment resources tailored to rural and tribal communities hit by the opioid epidemic > “As a young man, Jonathan overcame addiction and restarted his life. He’s seen firsthand the devastation the opioid crisis has had on rural and tribal Arizona and the drastic drop in interest in this crisis from Washington elites.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Nez) **Eli Crane:** Focuses on border enforcement against fentanyl Crane addresses the substance abuse epidemic primarily through border enforcement, seeking to intercept illicit drugs before they enter American communities. He advocates deploying advanced detection technology at border crossings to stop fentanyl trafficking. - Supports deploying specialized technology along the southern border to detect and stop fentanyl trafficking > “Crane is pushing hard to finish the wall, hire more immigration judges, and deploy new technology to detect deadly fentanyl.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Abortion and reproductive rights Salience: medium Crane holds an unflinchingly pro-life position opposing abortion, while Nez supports reproductive freedom as a matter of individual sovereignty. **Jonathan Nez:** Supports reproductive freedom Nez frames the right to choose as a fundamental matter of individual sovereignty and personal freedom, opposing government control over personal health decisions. - Frames reproductive rights as an issue of individual sovereignty and personal freedom - Opposes government interference in personal bodily choices > “For Jonathan, the right to choose is about individual sovereignty. In Arizona, we don’t let anyone tell us what to do – especially about our own bodies.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Nez) **Eli Crane:** Pro-life Crane positions himself as explicitly pro-life, framing the protection of unborn life as a core element of his conservative principles. - Consistently identifies as proudly and unflinchingly pro-life in campaign platforms > “Eli is proudly and unflinchingly pro-life and pro-Second Amendment and will never apologize for it.” > — Eli Crane, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) ### Rural development and infrastructure Salience: medium Crane focuses on expediting wildfire disaster recovery and supporting rural industries like copper mining, whereas Nez stresses directing federal infrastructure dollars to repair rural roads, flood control systems, and community facilities. **Jonathan Nez:** Supports federal investment in rural infrastructure Nez advocates ensuring rural Arizona receives its fair share of federal funding. He prioritizes directing infrastructure dollars toward upgrading rural roads, constructing community centers, and improving flood control infrastructure. - Fights to direct federal infrastructure funding to upgrade outdated rural roads - Supports expanding flood control projects and opening new community centers > “From making sure infrastructure dollars reach our outdated roads to improving flood control projects to opening new community centers, Jonathan believes rural Arizona is at an exciting crossroads, where real change is possible.” > — Jonathan Nez, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Nez) **Eli Crane:** Supports rural infrastructure and wildfire recovery Crane focuses on addressing rural priorities in District 2 by expediting disaster relief following natural disasters and supporting local industries like mining and agriculture. He passed legislation to accelerate community recovery after major wildfires in Northern Arizona. - Passed legislation to expedite recovery efforts following the White Sage Fire and Dragon Bravo Fire - Works to support Arizona's copper mining industry and remediate abandoned mines > “When the White Sage Fire and Dragon Bravo Fire raged through Northern Arizona, Eli Crane stepped up and passed legislation to expedite recovery efforts because families, workers, and businesses cannot afford to wait for their communities to bounce back.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Government reform and congressional ethics Salience: medium **Jonathan Nez:** No documented position in our sources **Eli Crane:** Supports congressional stock bans and term limits Crane advocates reform measures targeting career politicians in Washington. He supports banning stock trading by members of Congress, prohibiting former members from lobbying, stopping congressional pay during government shutdowns, and implementing congressional term limits. - Helped advance legislation banning members of Congress from trading stocks - Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge - Opposes post-government lobbying by politicians and supports withholding congressional pay during shutdowns - Voted to vacate the office of Speaker of the House in October 2023 (H.Res. 757) > “Crane helped advance legislation to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. He strongly opposes allowing politicians to go into lobbying after their time in government, and knows – like all Arizonans – that members of Congress should not be paid during government shutdowns.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Veterans affairs and defense Salience: low **Jonathan Nez:** No documented position in our sources **Eli Crane:** Supports expanding veteran healthcare and services Drawing on his 13 years of service as a Navy SEAL combat veteran, Crane prioritizes reforming and expanding healthcare for veterans. He argues for redirecting funds from foreign assistance and nongovernmental organizations toward domestic veteran care and job opportunities. - Served 13 years in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 3 across five wartime deployments - Assigned to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the 118th Congress - Pushes to improve veteran healthcare access, transition programs, and medical outcomes > “Instead of giving money to countries who hate us and propping up fraud-ridden nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Eli Crane believes we should be focused on taking care of those who risked it all for our freedom.” > — Eli Crane, via [Campaign site](https://eliforarizona.com) ### Gun rights Salience: low **Jonathan Nez:** No documented position in our sources **Eli Crane:** Supports Second Amendment rights Crane strongly advocates for gun owner rights, highlighting his personal background and commercial ties to the firearms industry as central to his constitutional stance. - Serves as a brand ambassador for Sig Sauer firearms - Promotes Second Amendment advocacy as a core campaign commitment > “Eli is proudly and unflinchingly pro-life and pro-Second Amendment and will never apologize for it.” > — Eli Crane, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) ### Education and social policies Salience: low **Jonathan Nez:** No documented position in our sources **Eli Crane:** Opposes Critical Race Theory and transgender inclusion in female sports Crane opposes federal vaccine mandates and advocates banning Critical Race Theory in Arizona schools. He also voted for federal legislation excluding biological males from competing in female sports programs. - Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) - Advocates banning Critical Race Theory curriculum in public schools - Opposes federal vaccine and mask mandates > “Eli will fight to ban Critical Race Theory in Arizona’s schools. Our kids should be educated, not indoctrinated.” > — Eli Crane, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eli_Crane) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/az-02-house-election-winner) — AZ-02 House Election Winner: Republicans 59.0%, Democrats 40.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSEAZ2-26) — AZ-02 House winner?: Eli Crane 60.0%, Jonathan Nez 42.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-az-02)