The Republican Party flipped seats in Arizona and Iowa and won an open district in Michigan.
Republican Eli Crane ousted Democrat incumbent Rep. Tom O’Halleran in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District.
Officials considered O’Halleran “the most endangered incumbent in the House Democratic caucus.”
Crane, a former Navy SEAL, received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. He concentrated on the economy, border security, and no Critical Race Theory.
O’Halleran represents the First District but chose to run for the newly redrawn Second District even though it favors Republicans.
Republican Juan Ciscomani, a senior adviser to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, defeated Democrat Kirsten Engel, flipping Arizona’s 6th District:
Ciscomani is a senior advisor to incumbent GOP Gov. Doug Ducey and campaigned on a close working relationship with border patrol, border sheriffs, ranchers, and residents. The Arizona native also serves as vice chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. Prior to running for Congress, Ciscomani served as a senior program development specialist at the University of Arizona and was vice president of outreach for the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who represents the former 2nd district, is retiring. That district became this 6th district due to redrawing:
The district was redrawn by reconfiguring its previous boundaries in the former 2nd District in redistricting following the 2020 Census, extending its arms to Republican-leaning suburbs like Marana, and excluding Democratic strongholds like Bisbee, giving Republicans an edge.
The Republicans control all House seats in Iowa.
Republican Zach Nunn defeated Democrat incumbent Rep. Cindy Axne to represent IA-03:
Nunn declared victory at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, before the race was officially called. Nunn, a state legislator, won with 50.3% of the vote to Axne’s 49.7%, a separation of slightly more than 2,000 votes.”We’re going to work with people not just across the aisle, but every Iowan who wants to make a dedicated move to make our state better — and by result, our country better,” Nunn said to a crowd at a Republican election night event.Axne conceded and thanked her supporters Wednesday afternoon.”Representing Iowa’s Third Congressional District has been one of the best opportunities of my life and I hope Zach Nunn understands the responsibility of this office and will continue my hard work to uplift Iowans’ voices in Washington, D.C.,” Axne said in an emailed statement.
Republican John James, who ran for the Senate in 2018 and 2020, won Michigan’s newly redrawn 10th Congressional District against Democrat Carl Marlinga.
The district is in the Detroit suburbs. Republicans wanted to win the district “to make in-roads with suburban voters.”
Trump barely won the district against Biden in 2020.
James concentrated on the economy, while Marlinga touted his pro-choice views:
While the district leaned Republican on paper, Marlinga was seen as a competitive challenger. A former probate court judge, Marlinga previously served as Macomb County’s district attorney for nearly 40 years.James ran a campaign largely centered on rising crime rates and 40-year high inflation.”Reckless, elitist policies of the Democrats have hollowed out the middle class,” said James. “They have sent our jobs overseas, inflation through the roof, and made our communities less safe.”Marlinga, meanwhile, stressed his pro-choice stance on abortion and long-running ties to the community by attacking James for allegedly not living in the district.
You don’t have to live in the district you represent.
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