Outside spending surges in Arizona’s final week as GOP groups pile into Feely, Ciscomani races

Outside groups are flooding Arizona’s U.S. House races with money in the final days before the election.

Republican-aligned groups are spending heavily to back former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely and U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani.

Outside groups spent about $17.6 million on Arizona House races last week alone, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That’s more than they spent in all of September.

Outside groups must report independent spending of $10,000 or more to the Federal Election Commission within 48 hours, and in the final 20 days before an election, any spending of $1,000 or more within 24 hours, which is why this late money becomes public almost as soon as it’s spent.

Republican-aligned groups are driving the late surge

Of the roughly $11.6 million in ad spending this week, about $9.5 million came from groups backing Republicans or opposing Democrats.

Much of that money is going to the open 1st Congressional District seat in the northeast Valley, where Feely faces Democrat Amish Shah. It’s Arizona’s most expensive race, with about $25.4 million in outside spending since the July primary.

This week alone, Safety & Affordability PAC put another $2.3 million into ads against Shah. The super PAC was formed in September and is funded almost entirely by MAGA Inc., the main super PAC backing President Donald Trump.

Money pours into Arizona’s 6th Congressional District

In the 6th District, which stretches from Tucson to Cochise County, the Congressional Leadership Fund spent $2.2 million this week opposing Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, Ciscomani’s challenger. CLF is a super PAC aligned with House Republican leaders.

Democratic-aligned groups spent heavily there earlier and still hold a slight edge overall in the $22.6 million race.

In northern Arizona’s 2nd District, groups backing Republican Rep. Eli Crane or opposing Democrat Jonathan Nez spent about $2 million this week. Groups on the other side spent about $500,000.

The biggest spenders in Arizona this cycle are CLF at nearly $12 million and House Majority PAC, its Democratic counterpart, at about $8.9 million.

In all, outside groups have spent more than $57 million on Arizona’s House races since the primary.

Election Day is Tuesday.

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