Mark Hatton, spokesperson for Jonathan Nez for Congress, responded to Congressman Eli Crane’s decision not to hold in-person town halls in Arizona, instead opting for a telephone town hall from Washington, DC.
Hatton said, “Congressman Eli ‘High Costs’ Crane’s record is so wrong for rural Arizona that he’s resorted to hiding behind pre-screened questions from his office in Washington, DC. If Crane could defend his record, he would host in-person town halls.”
The statement included several questions directed at Crane regarding his positions and voting record. These questions asked why Crane refuses to address rising gas prices affecting Arizonans, why he has voted against legislation aimed at lowering housing costs, and why he voted to remove health care coverage from tens of thousands of rural Arizonans. The statement also questioned whether Crane resides in Washington, DC or Oro Valley.
The release provided background on Jonathan Nez, describing him as the former President of the Navajo Nation and the 2024 Democratic nominee for Congress in Arizona’s 2nd District. According to the campaign statement, Nez grew up in rural Arizona helping his family run a ranch without running water or electricity. He began his public service career in Shonto on the Navajo Nation before being elected President of the Navajo Nation in 2018.
Nez is running for Congress with priorities that include lowering costs for families, delivering water security across Arizona, and representing rural communities. He lives with his wife Phefelia and their two sons in Flagstaff according to the official roster page.
