Where do Arizona's 2nd Congressional District candidates stand on issues? What to know

The Arizona Republic sent a brief questionnaire to the candidates in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, which stretches across much of the northeastern portion of the state.

Incumbent Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., is seeking his second term in office. Jack Smith, a former Yavapai County supervisor, is challenging him for the Republican nomination.

Jonathan Nez, a former Navajo Nation President, is running as a Democrat.

The district includes Apache, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties as well as parts of Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties.

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Responses are below.

The candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party. Candidates Eli Crane and Jack Smith did not return Q&A responses.

Democratic candidate

Jonathan Nez

• Occupation: Former president of the Navajo Nation, currently public policy consulting, Nez Consulting LLC
• Relevant experience: Jonathan Nez has 18 years of public service, beginning as the Shonto Chapter House vice president and serving as a Navajo County supervisor and president of the Navajo Nation.
• Age: 48
• Party: Democrat

Name two big problems facing the district you’re running to represent and how you would address them if elected.

Cost of living. From housing to basic utilities, the cost of getting by for the hardworking families of Arizona’s Second Congressional District continues to outpace increases in wages or the Social Security that our elders rely on. In Congress I will work across the aisle to hold corporations accountable for price-gouging, and to address our shortage of affordable housing. I will also protect Social Security and Medicare from the cuts and retirement-age hikes that were recently proposed by the Republican Study Committee.

Infrastructure is the other problem facing our district. Tribal communities still lack basic telecommunications, running water, and running electrical infrastructure. Communities across the district also require more infrastructure to prepare wildfire and flood responses. Communities across Arizona’s Second Congressional District, and for that matter all of rural Arizona, deserve adequate infrastructure development to help our communities catch up with metro areas. While I personally understand the resilience that comes from having to adapt to life without adequate infrastructure – I have lived without running water or power – I also understand that these lacks directly inhibit rural communities from growing economically. This means that young adults leave our communities for jobs and families split across generations. When elected, I will work to help communities across the district secure funding and advance infrastructure development, from fixing potholes to expanding reliable telecommunications coverage. 

Which recent political figure do you most admire, and why?

I admire US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who made history as the first Native American to represent the state of New Mexico in Congress and later became the first Native American appointed to the cabinet. She has continued to lead a charge to not only bring a unique voice and perspective, first to Congress and then the Department of Interior, but has allowed for marginalized people and groups to know that they can achieve their dreams with hard work.

What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to make life more affordable for ordinary Arizonans?

We must look at ways to address the housing shortage across the district and the state, from homeownership to renting. The number one largest expense for our hardworking families in Arizona is housing, and while we have become an ever more popular state to move to over recent years, the building of new houses has lagged behind, but that is only one of the major complications. The market continues to produce housing that is out of the price range of the people moving here. We must work to stop corporate landlords from manipulating prices. I will also work on finding creative ways to address the need for affordable housing, and not just low-income housing, but also middle class housing, by making first-time home buyer programs more accessible and easier to navigate.

What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to reform federal immigration policy?

Congress should increase funding for staffing at the border and make a far greater effort at fentanyl interdiction. We must invest in higher-quality infrastructure, increase border patrol staffing, and expand court staffing so we can effectively process asylum claims. We must address the issue intelligently and humanely, for the good of our economy and our reputation. I believe we should pass the DREAM Act and update our broken immigration system. This requires an honest discussion of immigration, its benefits to our country, as well as the costs of allowing continued growth. 

What do you believe is the biggest threat to national security, and how should we handle it?

The rise of political extremism, both domestically and globally, is the biggest threat to our national security. From the persistent conflict between Ukraine and Russia to the heightening tensions between China and Taiwan, our national security is at constant threat from rising tensions and conflicts impacting international economic stability. Industries including oil, agriculture, microchips and tourism are under threat of conflict, which jeopardizes critical supply chains that directly impact both our domestic economic order and our national security. Both areas of concern show how the rising extremism in Congress intensifies these threats by hamstringing our ability to support causes abroad that advance our security interests. 

What would you change about the US’ response to climate change, if anything?

I believe we need a more comprehensive approach to mitigating climate change. Congress should focus on three broad areas of public policy in this regard: reducing the amount of carbon we put into our atmosphere, mitigating the damage to communities who are suffering from extreme climate events, and recalibrating our economy so the American people can benefit from new technologies.

As the former President of the Navajo Nation, I have experience in dealing with the transition from coal-fired energy generation to solar energy production. I have been a vocal advocate for a just-transition approach to workforce retraining. Throughout my years of public service I have worked on the issues surrounding the waste left behind by uranium mining and how it has impacted both air and water quality for surrounding communities. In Congress I will bring unique perspectives and lived experiences to help better shape the country’s response to climate change. 

Do you feel confident that the 2024 election will be held securely and fairly? If not, what are your concerns?

Yes, I do. As a Native American, I know that we need to work toward combating voter disenfranchisement and invest in processes that help rebuild the public trust in the integrity of our election processes.

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Republican candidates

Republican candidates in this district have not yet responded to the questions. Their answers will be added if received.

Eli Crane

U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., did not return Q&A responses. Crane was first elected to Congress in 2022.

Jack Smith

Jack Smith, a former Yavapai County supervisor, did not return Q&A responses.