Mendoza Defeats Ciscomani in Arizona House Race
Democrat JoAnna Mendoza flips Arizona's 6th Congressional District seat held by Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat JoAnna Mendoza defeated Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani in Arizona's 6th Congressional District, with Decision Desk HQ calling the race at 10:12 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday night. With 70 percent of votes counted, Mendoza led 58 percent to 40 percent.
Why it matters
Mendoza's win flips a House seat held by a Republican, shifting the partisan balance of Arizona's congressional delegation. The result signals how economic concerns in southern Arizona shaped voter preferences in the district.
Election-night returns with 70 percent of votes counted showed Mendoza ahead 58 to 40 percent over Ciscomani. The final tally and certified margin were not yet available when the race was called.
The players
JoAnna Mendoza
Mendoza is a Democrat and former Marine Corps drill instructor who served in the Navy and Marine Corps for 19 years combined.
Juan Ciscomani
Ciscomani is a Republican who was first elected to Congress in 2022 and represented Arizona's 6th Congressional District until this race.
Decision Desk HQ
Decision Desk HQ is a national election-results organization that projects race outcomes based on vote tallies.
The details
Mendoza, who served two years in the Navy and 17 years in the Marine Corps including as a drill instructor, campaigned on protecting Medicaid and restoring SNAP and WIC funding. The candidates had debated cost of living, health care, veterans' issues, border security, immigration, and water rights in September.
Timeline
Election night: Decision Desk HQ called the race for Mendoza at 10:12 p.m. Eastern.
September: Mendoza and Ciscomani debated cost of living, health care, veterans' issues, border security, immigration, and water rights.
2022: Ciscomani was first elected to Congress.
Political Context
Mendoza's service spanned the period when 'don't ask, don't tell' barred openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members until its 2011 repeal. Her candidacy follows a pattern of veterans with combat and training backgrounds seeking congressional seats, while Ciscomani's 2022 election marked his initial entry into Congress.
The result changes which party represents southern Arizona's 6th District in the House, affecting federal positions on Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC funding. Residents' access to those programs and to federal water and border policy decisions will now run through a Democratic representative.
The takeaway
A single House seat can shift control of decisions on health care, nutrition aid, and border policy for an entire region. Voters tracking those issues can follow certified results as the final count is completed.
Further reading
For more on how this race fits into the state's broader contests, see Elections coverage for Arizona.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gay News, LGBT Rights, Politics, Entertainment.
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