JoAnna Mendoza maintains lead over incumbent Juan Ciscomani in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District

Democrat JoAnna Mendoza holds a lead over Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani in the race for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District seat.

As of Wednesday morning, the results showed the challenger leading by 8 percentage points, 52.9% to 44.9%.

Mendoza declared victory Tuesday night, and Decision Desk HQ called the race in her favor. But The Associated Press has not yet made a call in the contest.

The southern Arizona district, which includes much of eastern Tucson and parts of Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties, was expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the country, but it’s not turning out that way.

Ciscomani, who became a U.S. citizen 20 years ago, is seeking a third term after winning reelection in 2024.

Juan Ciscomani, JoAnna Mendoza clash over Medicaid, police funding

Ciscomani ran on his record of working across party lines. Democrats argued he went along with President Donald Trump too often, pointing to his vote for the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which changed food assistance and Medicaid.

In a debate, Ciscomani said he held out until a proposed Medicaid funding change that would have hurt Arizona was dropped.

“I fought hard for that and held my vote until that was taken off the table,” he said.

Mendoza, the daughter of farmworkers in Eloy, served 20 years in the Navy and Marine Corps, including combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She pushed back on Republican attacks over police funding, saying in the debate, “I do not support defunding the police.”

“My opponent, Ciscomani, is a follower. And we need a leader with a spine,” Mendoza said in her closing statement.

Green Party candidate Gary Swing was also on the ballot.

Mendoza raised about $10.8 million to Ciscomani’s $7.5 million through Sept. 30, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Outside groups spent another $22.5 million after the primary, split almost evenly between the two sides.

This is an updated version of a story originally published Nov. 3, 2026.

Click here to see results come in from all the races in Arizona.

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