The Arizona Republic sent a brief questionnaire to candidates in the state's 2nd Congressional District, which covers much of northeastern Arizona.
Incumbent Rep. Eli Klain (R-Ariz.) is seeking a second term in office, and former Yavapai County Supervisor Jack Smith is challenging him for the Republican nomination.
Former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez is running as the Democratic candidate.
The district includes Apache, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo counties, as well as portions of Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties.
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The answers are as follows:
Candidates are listed alphabetically by party. Candidates Eli Klein and Jack Smith did not respond to questions during the answer session.
Democratic candidate
Jonathan Nez
- Profession: Former Navajo Nation President and current public policy consultant at Nez Consulting LLC
- Related experiences: Jonathan Nez has served in public service for 18 years, starting as Shonto Chapter Vice President and serving as Navajo County Supervisor and Navajo Nation Chairman.
- Year: 48
- party: Democratic Party
What are the two biggest issues facing the district you are running to represent and how would you address them if elected?
Cost of livingFrom housing to basic utilities, the cost of living for hardworking families in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District continues to outpace rising wages and the Social Security benefits our seniors rely on. In Congress, I will work bipartisanally to hold corporations accountable for price gouging and address the affordable housing shortage. I will also protect Social Security and Medicare from the cuts and retirement age increases recently proposed by the Republican Study Committee.
infrastructure This is another issue facing our district. Tribal communities still lack basic communications, water, and electricity infrastructure. Communities throughout the district also need more infrastructure to prepare them to respond to wildfires and floods. Communities throughout Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, and all of rural Arizona for that matter, deserve adequate infrastructure development to help our communities keep up with urban areas. I personally understand the resilience that comes from having to adapt to life without adequate infrastructure. I have lived without running water or electricity myself. But I also understand that these shortages directly stifle economic growth in rural communities. This means young people leave our communities in search of work and families are split apart for generations. If elected, I will work to ensure communities throughout the district have the funds to advance infrastructure development, from fixing potholes to expanding reliable communication coverage.
Which recent politician do you most admire and why?
I admire U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who made history as the first Native American elected to Congress representing New Mexico and subsequently became the first Native American appointed to a Cabinet position. Not only has she brought a unique voice and perspective to Congress and then to the Department of the Interior, but she continues to lead a movement to let marginalized people and groups know that they can achieve their dreams if they work hard enough.
What specific steps should Congress take to make life more affordable for ordinary Arizonans?
We must look at how to solve the housing shortage problem across the District and across the state, from homeownership to renting. Housing is the single largest expense for hardworking Arizona families. In recent years, Arizona has become an increasingly popular relocation destination, but new home construction has lagged. But that's just one major problem. There are more and more homes on the market that are beyond the budgets of relocating residents. We must work to stop corporate landlords from manipulating prices. We will also work to find creative ways to address the need for affordable housing, not just for low-income housing but for middle-class housing as well, by making programs for first-time homebuyers more accessible and easier to use.
Are there specific actions Congress should take to reform federal immigration policy?
Congress should increase funding for border staffing and do more to crack down on fentanyl. We must invest in better infrastructure, increase Border Patrol resources, and expand our courts to effectively process asylum claims. We must address this problem wisely and humanely, for the sake of our economy and our reputation. I believe we should pass the DREAM Act and replace our broken immigration system. To do this, we need to have an honest discussion about immigration, the benefits it brings to our country, and the costs of allowing it to continue to grow.
What do you see as the biggest threat to national security, and how should we address it?
The rise of political extremism at home and around the world is the greatest threat to our national security. From the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia to rising tensions between China and Taiwan, our national security is constantly under threat from rising tensions and conflicts that affect international economic stability. Industries such as oil, agriculture, microchips, and tourism are under threat from conflict, endangering critical supply chains that directly affect both our domestic economic order and our national security. Both areas of concern demonstrate that the rise of extremism in Congress intensifies these threats by impeding our ability to support overseas movements that advance our national security interests.
Is there anything that should be changed about the U.S. response to climate change?
I believe we need a more comprehensive approach to mitigating climate change. In this regard, Congress should focus on three broad public policy areas: reducing the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere, mitigating the harms to communities that suffer from extreme weather, and rebalancing our economy so that Americans can benefit from new technologies.
As a former Navajo Nation President, I have experience working to transition from coal-fired power generation to solar energy production. I have been a vocal advocate for a just transition approach to workforce retraining. Since my time in public office, I have addressed the issue of waste left behind from uranium mining and its impacts on air and water quality in surrounding communities. In Congress, I will bring a unique perspective and lived experience to help better shape the nation's response to climate change.
Are you confident that the 2024 election will be safe and fair, and if not, what are your concerns?
Yes, I agree. As a Native American, I know we need to fight voter disenfranchisement and invest in the process of rebuilding public trust in the integrity of our electoral process.
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Republican candidate
The Republican candidates in this district have not yet responded to questions. Responses will be added as they arrive.
Eli Crain
Rep. Eli Klain (R-Ariz.), who was first elected to Congress in 2022, did not respond to questions.
Jack Smith
Former Yavapai County Supervisor Jack Smith did not respond to questions during the session.
