Seven candidates are running in the Republican primary for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District on August 2, 2022. Walter Blackman and Eli Crane lead in endorsements and funding.
Blackman, who was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2018, said he was the only candidate in the primary with the “values, experience, and commitment to public service necessary to take back [the Republican] majority[.]” Blackman said in Congress he would “continue [his] fight for border security, election integrity and against the culture war.” Blackman served in the U.S. Army for 21 years as a tank commander and sexual assault prevention specialist. After retiring from the Army, he founded a consulting firm. The Arizona Police Association, U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), Arizona House Majority Leader Ben Toma (R), Majority Whip Leo Biasiucci (R), and Speaker Pro-Tempore Travis Grantham (R) endorsed Blackman.
Crane, a Navy veteran and small business owner, said he was “an America First candidate who is pro-life, pro-second amendment, and has the courage to take a stand against cancel culture and the radical left.” Crane said, “I’m running for Congress because America is in trouble. The week after 9/11, I volunteered for the SEAL Teams. I’m ready to head back into the fight.” The National Border Patrol Council, Green Beret PAC, Arizona Sens. Wendy Rogers (R) and Sonny Borrelli (R), and Arizona Rep. Mark Finchem (R) endorsed Crane.
Also running in the primary are Mark DeLuzio, Steven Krystofiak, John W. Moore, Ron Watkins, and Andy Yates.
According to data from Daily Kos, after redistricting, 64% of the new 2nd District’s population came from the old 1st District, represented by Tom O’Halleran (D), and 36% came from the old 4th District, represented by Paul Gosar (R). O’Halleran, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 2nd District, was first elected in 2016. In 2020, he was re-elected by a margin of three percentage points. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D), who was elected to represent the old 2nd District in 2018, did not file to run for re-election.
Major independent observers rate the general election as Likely Republican or Lean Republican.
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