Arizona's 6th District: A proxy battle over the White House
Voters in southern Arizona are deciding who controls Congress based on their feelings about President Trump, not the candidates' records.
By Hassan Bello ·
Midterm voting is underway in Arizona's 6th Congressional District. The race pits incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani against Democratic challenger JoAnna Mendoza. Both parties have poured tens of millions of dollars into the contest. However, local voters say the campaign ads barely register. They are voting for or against the president.
Michael Falk, a 66-year-old independent in Pima County, is casting his ballot for Mendoza. He admits he knows little about her platform. His decision hinges on his dislike of Donald Trump. Falk argued that the president gave voice to bigots early in his career. That shift, Falk said, fueled laws targeting brown and illegal residents. He described the impact as taking off like wildfire.
On the other side of the aisle, Gregory Corron voted for Ciscomani. The 67-year-old computer programmer has supported Trump three times. He cited strong employment numbers and a healthy stock market. Corron fears that a Democratic majority in Congress will stall the reforms started by the White House. He believes the current administration is moving the country in the right direction.
The district covers eastern Tucson and stretches north toward Phoenix and south to the U.S.-Mexico border. It includes vast desert areas and midsize cities. Biden carried the seat by less than a percentage point in 2020. Trump flipped it by a similar margin in 2024. Ciscomani won two narrow races. Mendoza is a Marine veteran and former congressional staffer. She runs billboards near Fort Huachuca that read, 'Battle Tested. Ready To Lead.' Ciscomani's signs tout support from veterans.
Mendoza has labeled Ciscomani a spineless tool of the White House. Her ads place the president at the center of the debate. Ciscomani counters by highlighting his bipartisan record. His team portrays Mendoza as an agent of the unhinged left. Laura Lentner, a 73-year-old retired dental hygienist, voted for Mendoza. She said Ciscomani is a good man, but his continued support for Trump negates his good deeds.
Economic concerns and the war with Iran dominate conversations. Susan Summers, a 74-year-old Republican in Vail, accepts higher gas prices as a trade-off to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons. She expects prices to drop once the conflict resolves. Merilyn Prentice, 78, praised Trump for addressing terrorist cells that other presidents ignored. Critics like Ann Nichols, 72, point to tariffs and war costs. She called the EPA the Environmental Pollution Agency and blamed the administration for wrecking the economy.
Some voters are disillusioned with both parties. Adam Thompson, a 39-year-old delivery driver in Tanque Verde, said he does not like either group. He argued that resources spent on overseas wars should go to domestic needs. Rick, a 67-year-old retired government worker, has decided to stop voting. He cited high taxes and new wars. He described the political system as treating the public unfairly. Rick left a thrift shop in Vail holding a Ray Price compilation.
Alex Lagerberg, a 35-year-old tattoo artist in Casa Grande, voted for Trump three times. He now feels the president’s business approach has not delivered much change. He is not motivated to choose between the current candidates. The outcome will depend on how many discouraged Trump voters stay home. Their absenteeism could determine whether Democrats achieve a major victory.
Source: Los Angeles Times
