Tucson Now: Juan Ciscomani’s plan to keep U.S. House District 06

For Tucson and the communities stretching east and south to the New Mexico border, the race for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District will help determine which party controls the U.S. House next year. Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani is seeking a third term against Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, a former Marine and Navy veteran. The district includes Tucson, Casa Grande, Eloy and Sierra Vista, and remains one of the nation’s most closely divided congressional districts. Ciscomani won by fewer than three percentage points in both 2022 and 2024. President Donald Trump carried the district by less than one point in 2024, after losing it by less than one point in 2020. The Cook Political Report rates the contest a true toss-up.

Ciscomani’s campaign is centered on the cost of living, an issue he says cuts across the district’s political divisions. In an interview, he pointed to provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, including ending federal taxes on tips and overtime, limiting taxes on Social Security benefits and making expanded child tax credits permanent. His argument is that families should be able to keep more of their earnings as food, housing, gasoline and other expenses rise. That message comes as Latino voters and other working class residents in Arizona and across the country express frustration that wages have not kept pace with household costs.

Casa Grande illustrates the political uncertainty facing Ciscomani. The farming and manufacturing community of about 70,000 sits between Tucson and Phoenix, with newer housing developments drawing residents priced out of larger cities and retirement communities adding another voting bloc. Chris Martinez, a 28 year old maintenance technician who supported Trump, said rising gas and grocery costs have made life harder and that he was reconsidering his political direction. Other Casa Grande residents remain inclined to support Republicans, showing why neither party can assume that economic frustration will automatically translate into votes for its candidates.

The broader Latino electorate is also unsettled. Trump made significant gains with Hispanic voters in 2024, helping Republicans retain the presidency and congressional control. But polling cited by the Associated Press found that roughly six in 10 Hispanic voters disapproved of his job performance, while more than seven in 10 disapproved of his handling of the economy. Hispanic voters have shown especially high concern about groceries and housing, and many attribute higher prices to government policy. Political consultant Mike Madrid described the shift as voters moving away from fixed party loyalties and toward pocketbook concerns. That uncertainty could be decisive in District 6, where Republicans, Democrats and independents each make up about one third of the electorate.

Ciscomani is presenting himself as more independent than a typical Republican incumbent. His campaign advertisements highlight his record as a bipartisan and collaborative lawmaker, as well as his personal history. Born in Mexico, he moved to the United States at age 11 and became Arizona’s first Mexican immigrant elected to federal office when he won in 2022. He says his priorities are working families, seniors, veterans, police and reducing corruption in Washington. He has also cited bipartisan accomplishments, including legislation that elevated Chiricahua National Monument to national park status. A congressional scorecard released in August ranked him among the most bipartisan lawmakers, based partly on legislation sponsored or cosponsored and his conduct with colleagues.

That characterization has drawn sharp criticism. An opinion columnist argued that Ciscomani’s bipartisan credentials obscure how consistently he has supported Trump’s agenda when major votes were at stake. A Center for American Progress scorecard said he voted with the administration every time, including for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation reduced federal spending on SNAP food assistance and Medicaid by more than $1 trillion over a decade. More than 400,000 Arizonans, including about 180,000 children, have lost SNAP benefits, while more than 77,000 people in Pima County have seen assistance cut. Ciscomani previously warned Republican leaders that Medicaid reductions could damage hospitals, nursing homes and rural safety net providers, but later voted for the bill, citing a rural health program intended to offset some effects. Arizona received the sixth lowest allocation under that program.

Health care and immigration have become particularly important in Southern Arizona. One Tucson hospital has closed, and eight others have been identified as at risk, while more than 300,000 Arizonans could lose AHCCCS coverage when the new rules take effect in 2027. Critics also say Ciscomani has been too quiet as Immigration and Customs Enforcement increases arrests. Karla Toledo, a DACA recipient who was held by ICE for about a week, urged him to support a permanent legal status for Dreamers. Ciscomani previously said young people brought to the country as children deserve a chance at the American Dream, but he later voted to provide ICE more than $113 billion through federal legislation and missed a vote on an amendment that would have protected DACA recipients from detention or deportation.

Veterans are another major constituency in the district, which includes more than 76,000 veterans. Ciscomani says he has delivered for them, but national Democrats have criticized him over proposed cuts of 35,000 health care positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Retired Army Col. Tom Davis resigned from Ciscomani’s Veterans Advisory Council after saying he had urged the congressman to oppose reductions in veterans’ health care and saw no action. Davis later appeared in an advertisement for VoteVets, saying Ciscomani no longer had his trust or support. The congressman’s campaign, meanwhile, is emphasizing bipartisan work and local results as it seeks to separate him from unpopular national policies without directly attacking Trump.

Ciscomani also says emerging technology and water security require a local approach. He supports disclosures when artificial intelligence generates voices or automated messages, a response to scams that can target older adults in retirement areas such as Green Valley. He favors privacy and First Amendment protections, but does not want regulation to stop business innovation. He has also raised concerns about the energy use, water consumption and public subsidies associated with large data centers. With Southern Arizona facing a prolonged drought and continued Colorado River negotiations, he says cities should retain authority over whether such facilities are approved and that Arizona’s water rights should be defended through direct negotiations. Early voting is underway for the Nov. 3 election, and officials recommend returning mailed ballots by Oct. 27 or using a designated drop off location afterward.