--- title: "Lee vs. Lamb: 2026 Arizona’s 5th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-az-05" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Arizona’s 5th District race: Elizabeth Lee (D) vs. Mark Lamb (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 In Arizona's 5th Congressional District, Democratic nominee Elizabeth Lee faces Republican nominee Mark Lamb in an open-seat general election following incumbent Andy Biggs' decision not to seek re-election. The matchup hinges on a stark contrast between Lee's advocacy-centered platform focused on healthcare, education, and housing affordability, and Lamb's platform rooted in his experience as a county sheriff prioritizing border security, law enforcement, and fiscal discipline. ## Candidates - **Elizabeth Lee** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.nurselee4az.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) - **Mark Lamb** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://marklamb.us/home) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Lamb) ## Issues ### Border Security & Immigration Salience: high Lee advocates for compassionate, humane immigration reform and rejects describing individuals as illegal, whereas Lamb favors strict enforcement, codifying Trump-era border policies, and confronting cartels. **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports compassionate, humane immigration reform Lee views immigration as a personal and local priority for Arizona rather than a political talking point. She advocates for humane solutions that uphold human dignity and rejects dehumanizing language. - Promote humane and compassionate solutions to border security and immigration - Reject rhetoric that labels individuals as illegal > “Arizona shares a border with Mexico. Immigration is personal here—not a political talking point. People deserve compassionate, humane solutions.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Campaign site](https://www.nurselee4az.com) > “no human being is "an illegal."” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Campaign site](https://www.nurselee4az.com) **Mark Lamb:** Prioritizes strict border enforcement Lamb leverages his eight years as Sheriff of Pinal County to advocate for strict border security measures, targeting cartels, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. He seeks to codify former President Donald Trump's border policies into federal law. - Codify President Donald Trump's border security policies - Stop cartels, drug trafficking, and human smuggling operations - Strengthen local law enforcement cooperation with ICE > “he witnessed firsthand the consequences of illegal immigration, cartel activity, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent crime. While politicians debated the issues, Mark and his deputies faced them every day on the front lines.” > — Mark Lamb, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Lamb) ### Healthcare & Reproductive Rights Salience: high Lee treats healthcare and reproductive care as fundamental human rights requiring federal investment and expansion, while Lamb focuses on individual health freedom and constitutional liberty. **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports universal healthcare and reproductive freedom As a board-certified reproductive health and infertility nurse, Lee treats healthcare as a fundamental human right. She advocates expanding healthcare coverage, lowering out-of-pocket costs, and protecting access to reproductive healthcare and IVF. - Guarantee healthcare access as a human right to prevent medical debt bankruptcy - Protect reproductive freedom and expand access to fertility treatments like IVF - Reform healthcare systems based on personal patient and professional nursing experience > “I know firsthand that healthcare is not a privilege but a human right.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) > “For every family who dreams of children, for every patient who has been left behind, we must build a system that values lives over profits and ensures reproductive care is accessible to all.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) **Mark Lamb:** Supports health freedom and individual liberty Lamb's healthcare focus centers on constitutional rights and individual liberty, earning an endorsement from Stand for Health Freedom. - Protect constitutional rights and individual liberty in health choices - Received endorsement from Stand for Health Freedom > “Stand for Health Freedom has officially endorsed Mark Lamb for Congress, recognizing his commitment to constitutional rights, individual liberty, and health freedom” > — Mark Lamb, via [Campaign site](https://marklamb.us/home) ### Economy, Spending & Housing Salience: high Lee targets corporate real estate ownership and tax avoidance by corporations to lower family living costs, whereas Lamb emphasizes reducing federal spending and public debt through fiscal discipline. **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports economic equity and affordable housing reform Lee addresses economic instability by targeting skyrocketing housing costs and tax code inequities. She advocates curbing private equity and corporate real estate investments to make home ownership accessible and ensuring corporations pay their fair share. - Curb corporate and private equity control over residential real estate - Require corporations and the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes - Channel revenue into affordable housing, public education, and healthcare > “A major driver of this crisis is corporations and private equity firms buying up homes, inflating prices and treating shelter like a commodity instead of a basic human need.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) **Mark Lamb:** Supports fiscal discipline and cost reduction Lamb advocates for lowering costs for families by curtailing federal spending and exercising fiscal discipline. He aims to protect taxpayers and foster an environment where small businesses can grow. - Address national debt through greater fiscal discipline and responsible spending - Lower costs for working families and protect taxpayers from government overreach - Support small business growth and strengthen American job creation > “Lower costs, support small businesses, protect taxpayers, and strengthen American jobs” > — Mark Lamb, via [Campaign site](https://marklamb.us/home) ### Public Safety, Law Enforcement & Gun Policy Salience: medium Lee approaches safety through nurse-backed gun violence prevention laws, whereas Lamb relies on his law enforcement experience to advocate for backing police and ending qualified immunity for lenient judicial officials. **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports gun violence prevention measures Drawing on her career as a nurse, Lee advocates for common-sense gun safety policies to protect communities and reduce gun violence injuries. - Enact common-sense gun violence prevention legislation - Protect families and communities using public health insights > “Elizabeth is a nurse. She's seen what gun violence does to bodies, families, and communities. Our families deserve common-sense solutions that save lives.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Campaign site](https://www.nurselee4az.com) **Mark Lamb:** Supports law enforcement and ending qualified immunity for lenient officials Rooted in his background as a county sheriff, Lamb champions law enforcement officers and tough-on-crime policies. He advocates ending qualified immunity for judges and officials who release dangerous offenders. - Support law enforcement officers and law enforcement associations - End qualified immunity for judges and officials whose decisions release dangerous criminals back onto streets - Confront violent crime and drug trafficking > “Sheriff Mark Lamb responds to the murder of Sheridan Gorman on Newsmax, calling to end qualified immunity for judges and officials whose decisions put American families at risk.” > — Mark Lamb, via [Campaign site](https://marklamb.us/home) ### Democracy, Voting Rights & Governance Salience: medium Lee champions federal legislation to expand voting access and enact term limits, whereas Lamb prioritizes election integrity and limiting constitutional overreach. **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports expanded voting access and congressional term limits Lee advocates for national voting standards, automatic and same-day voter registration, and expanded vote-by-mail access. She also supports congressional term limits, nonpartisan redistricting, and banning corporate PAC contributions. - Establish national standards for automatic registration, same-day registration, and vote-by-mail access - Support term limits for members of Congress to prevent career politicians - Refuse corporate PAC money and push for campaign finance transparency > “Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and Congress has a responsibility to make sure every eligible American can cast a ballot that is counted.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) > “Term limits ensure fresh ideas, prevent power from consolidating in the hands of a few and make Congress more accountable to the people instead of lobbyists.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) **Mark Lamb:** Supports election integrity and constitutional governance Lamb highlights election integrity and restoring public confidence in elections as central campaign themes, alongside defending constitutional limits on government. - Promote election integrity measures to build public election confidence - Uphold constitutional governance and limit federal overreach > “Republican congressional candidate Mark Lamb joins Steve Gruber on Real America's Voice to discuss Arizona's future, election integrity, border security, constitutional rights, and the common-sense leadership” > — Mark Lamb, via [Campaign site](https://marklamb.us/home) ### Public Education Salience: medium **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports full funding for public education Lee highlights that Arizona ranks near the bottom in education funding and opposes siphoning tax dollars to private school voucher programs. She advocates keeping public funds in public classrooms to pay teachers and resource schools adequately. - Keep public funds dedicated to public schools rather than private school vouchers - Increase funding for classroom resources, safe facilities, and qualified teachers > “Public dollars belong in public schools, and I will fight in Washington to ensure Arizona invests in its students instead of subsidizing unregulated private institutions.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_Lee_%28Arizona%29) **Mark Lamb:** No documented position in our sources ### Water Security & Environmental Protection Salience: medium **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports water protection and environmental sustainability Lee stresses that Arizona's long-term future depends on water management during a historic mega-drought. She supports clean energy investments and water conservation measures. - Protect Arizona water security amid historic mega-drought - Invest in clean energy and environmental protection > “Arizona is currently in the middle of a historic mega-drought. Arizona's future depends on protecting our water. Without water, there is no Arizona.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Campaign site](https://www.nurselee4az.com) **Mark Lamb:** No documented position in our sources ### Foreign Policy & International Justice Salience: low **Elizabeth Lee:** Supports international human rights and peace Lee advocates for upholding international human rights and protecting civilians globally so everyone can live safely. - Advocate for civilian protection and international human rights - Promote international justice and peace > “Elizabeth will advocate for civilians and human rights everywhere, just as she has advocated for her patients. Everyone deserves to live in peace and safety.” > — Elizabeth Lee, via [Campaign site](https://www.nurselee4az.com) **Mark Lamb:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/az-05-house-election-winner) — AZ-05 House Election Winner: Republicans 87.0%, Democrats 12.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-AZ05-26) — AZ-05 House winner?: Mark Lamb 88.0%, Elizabeth Lee 13.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-az-05)