Eli Crane gets GOP challenger in Arizona after voting to oust McCarthy – Washington Examiner

A former Yavapai County, Arizona, supervisor has filed paperwork to challenge Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District.

Crane was one of eight Republicans who voted with Democrats to oust former California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the speakership in October, leaving the lower chamber of Congress paralyzed for three weeks until Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected to succeed him.

Jack Smith, not to be confused with the special prosecutor in the indictments of former President Donald Trump, has moved a step closer to challenging Crane, according to the Arizona Republic.

Smith was on the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors until 2019 and has worked for Yavapai College since 2023. He also worked for the Arizona Department of Administration and was appointed to serve as state director of USDA Rural Development in 2019 during the Trump administration.

McCarthy and his allies are reportedly looking to primary many of the Republicans who booted him from the speakership, according to Politico. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Bob Good (R-VA) have high-profile challengers in their respective districts, while others who voted to remove McCarthy are safer in their respective primaries as Republicans look to hold on to their House majority.

Crane was first elected in 2022, defeating then-Rep. Tom O’Halleran after his district was drawn more Republican-friendly during redistricting. The 2nd Congressional District has a Republican +6 partisan voting index, according to the CookPoliticalReport, while the state’s 1st Congressional District is likely to be the most competitive in November.

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The race for the seat has been rated as “solid Republican” by the CookPoliticalReport.

Crane has received a Democratic challenger in former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, who announced his bid in October, shortly after Crane voted to oust McCarthy from the speakership.

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