Candidate profile: Republican Juan Ciscomani for Congressional District 6

For Tucson voters, the race between Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democratic challenger JoAnna Mendoza could help determine which party controls the U.S. House. Arizona’s 6th Congressional District includes much of eastern Tucson and parts of Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties. The district is closely divided among Republicans, Democrats and independent voters, making it one of the country’s most competitive congressional contests. Republicans hold the House by only a small margin, and Ciscomani’s 2026 reelection campaign is again drawing national attention and significant spending.

Ciscomani is seeking a third term after winning his first election in 2022 and defeating Democrat Kirsten Engel again in 2024. His first victory margin was 5,232 votes, followed by a 10,822 vote margin two years later. The Associated Press called the 2024 race the final Republican win needed to preserve the party’s House majority. Before entering Congress, Ciscomani served as a senior adviser to former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. He is described as a moderate Republican and received an A rating for bipartisanship from Bridge Grades, a project of the Colorado based Mediators Foundation.

A central part of Ciscomani’s case for another term is his position on the House Appropriations Committee. He says the assignment gives Arizona a direct role in decisions about federal spending, regardless of which party controls the House after the election. He points to federal money for fire and police services, a Joint Technical Education District building, water infrastructure in rural communities and equipment for rural hospitals. Ciscomani argues that holding a seat where spending decisions are made allows him to return resources to the district and demonstrate tangible results to constituents.

Water is another priority Ciscomani identifies for Arizona. He has connected the issue to drought, negotiations involving the Colorado River and the state’s continued population and economic growth. In his view, water availability affects nearly every major question facing the region, including development, business expansion and the long term ability of communities to support residents. The district’s mix of urban Tucson neighborhoods and rural communities makes that issue especially broad, involving both household concerns and the needs of agriculture, hospitals and local governments.

Healthcare and the cost of living are also prominent in the campaign. Ciscomani’s support for a recently passed large federal budget bill has drawn criticism from Mendoza, who says the measure makes coverage more difficult for people who need it and could put rural hospitals at risk. Ciscomani has defended his approach by saying federal health programs must be protected from fraud so that Medicaid funding reaches single parents, people with disabilities and residents in rural areas who may have few alternatives for care. He also says his work has helped small hospitals obtain necessary equipment and preserve access to healthcare.

Mendoza has made those disagreements a major part of her challenge. She grew up in a local farmworker family, served 20 years in the Navy and Marine Corps, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and worked as a Marine Corps drill instructor. After returning to Arizona, she served as a staffer for former Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran. She has not previously held elected office and lost an Arizona state Senate race in 2020. Her campaign presents her military and personal background as preparation to represent communities dealing with high costs and reductions to programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Mendoza at a September campaign event at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson. Organizers said roughly 1,000 people attended. Buttigieg attacked Ciscomani’s congressional voting record, arguing that the incumbent supported broad federal spending reductions while also contributing to the national debt. Buttigieg said votes supported by Ciscomani would reduce food assistance for more than 420,000 Arizonans, including 180,000 children. He also connected cuts to federal clean energy funding with the layoffs of 700 workers in Casa Grande, and criticized Ciscomani for not holding town hall meetings to explain those decisions.

The Tucson rally followed a debate between Ciscomani and Mendoza that focused on the economy, living expenses, healthcare and veterans’ issues. Buttigieg endorsed Mendoza and portrayed the contest as an opportunity to replace what he called entrenched political corruption with practical leadership centered on residents. He also praised Mendoza’s military service, noting that she enlisted at 17. Buttigieg had previously canceled a Tucson appearance after he and his husband, Chasten, faced what Buttigieg described as unfounded child endangerment allegations following a complaint to child protective services in Michigan. He said the incident temporarily separated him from their two children and may have been politically motivated and rooted in homophobia. He declined to discuss whether he might seek the presidency in 2028.

The contest is attracting major financial support from both parties. As of July 1, Ciscomani had raised $6.17 million, while Mendoza had raised $7.35 million. Libertarian Jereme Peters and Green Party candidate Gary Swing are also on the ballot, while independent Michael Dorland is running a write in campaign. Third party candidates have affected recent results. In 2024, Green candidate Athena Eastwood received 10,759 votes, nearly equal to Ciscomani’s 10,822 vote advantage over Engel. Voters must register by Oct. 5. Early in person voting is scheduled for Oct. 7 through Oct. 30, ballots are to be mailed to voters on the early voting list beginning Oct. 7, and Election Day is Nov. 3. Residents can check registration, district information, polling locations and ballot status through Arizona and Pima County election resources. Voters who mail ballots should sign them, and the recommended mailing deadline is Oct. 27.