NRCC Opens Sierra Vista Campaign Office To Support Ciscomani Reelection Bid

NRCC Opens Sierra Vista Campaign Office To Support Ciscomani Reelection Bid

By Matthew Holloway |

The National Republican Congressional Committee and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) announced the opening of a new campaign field office in Sierra Vista as Republicans expand their ground operation in Arizona’s competitive Sixth Congressional District.

The NRCC described the office as a “Battlestation” that will serve as a hub for the grassroots effort to reelect Ciscomani. The committee said the office is part of a multimillion-dollar national investment intended to reach voters directly in competitive districts.

The NRCC said in a May campaign memorandum that more than 20 Battlestation offices were already operating across the country, with additional locations planned. The committee said the offices help candidates sharpen their campaigns and drive turnout through sustained voter contact.

“Twenty years ago, I became a United States citizen, and like everyday Arizonans, we’ve worked hard for what we have,” Ciscomani said. “That’s why I’m committed to working for the people we represent, and making their lives better.”

“From lower taxes for working people to bringing our tax dollars back to our community for law enforcement and roads, I am committed to putting Arizona first,” he added. “I’m grateful to the Cochise County community for their continued support as we work to make sure every Arizonan has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said the office reflects the committee’s commitment to keeping Ciscomani in Congress.

“This Battlestation builds on our commitment to re-elect Representative Juan Ciscomani so he can continue taking on corruption and delivering wins like the largest working-class tax cut in generations,” Petersen said. “In stark contrast, Democrat lobbyist Joanna Mendoza showed she is completely out of touch, calling for tax hikes and higher costs while pushing far-left transgender policies.”

Mendoza has faced renewed criticism for a now-deleted video interview with the executive director of Equality Arizona in which she called for the decriminalization of prostitution, particularly for transgender women of color.

Mendoza, a retired Marine Corps drill instructor and former staff member for Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran, is the only Democratic candidate who qualified for the district’s July 21 primary election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee selected her for its Red to Blue program in February, giving her access to additional organizational, strategic and fundraising support.

Ciscomani was first elected to Congress in 2022 and won a second term in 2024 after defeating former Democratic state Sen. Kirsten Engel for the second time. The district covers much of southeastern Arizona, including portions of Tucson and Pinal County, and extends east to the New Mexico state line while including part of the Arizona-Mexico border.

The 2026 contest has attracted national attention because of its potential role in determining control of the closely divided House. Mike Noble, CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, told 13 News in April that the race would draw significant outside interest.

“Sit back, you’re going to watch one of the most competitive races in the country, and Arizona voters in the southern district will decide not only who wins that district, but probably who controls Congress,” Noble said.

The candidates have also accumulated multimillion-dollar campaign accounts. According to the Federal Election Commission, Ciscomani’s campaign reported approximately $6.17 million in total receipts and $4.14 million in cash on hand through July 1.

Mendoza’s latest available FEC financial summary, covering activity through March 31, showed approximately $5.34 million in total receipts and $3.51 million in cash on hand. The two summaries cover different reporting periods.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.

Arizona Democratic Congressional Candidate Called For Decriminalizing Prostitution In Resurfaced Clip

Arizona Democratic Congressional Candidate Called For Decriminalizing Prostitution In Resurfaced Clip

By Staff Reporter |

A Democratic candidate for Congress in Arizona advocated for decriminalizing prostitution in a since-deleted clip.

JoAnna Mendoza, candidate for the 6th congressional district, said in an uncovered 2020 interview that prostitution needed to be decriminalized, especially for marginalized communities like transgender women of color. 

That was the year Mendoza made an unsuccessful bid for the 11th legislative district in the Arizona State Senate. Mendoza lost against Republican State Sen. Vince Leach, now representing the 17th legislative district. 

Mendoza said in a now-deleted video interview with the executive director of Equality Arizona at the time, Michael Soto, that social services and healthcare needed to replace arrests. Mendoza reframed prostitution as a means of income, not a crime.  

“[We need to be] eliminating the discriminatory practices and laws so that every individual has the opportunity to be able to provide for themselves. We need to stop criminalizing people for their situations,” said Mendoza.

The National Republican Congressional Committee first released the found footage.

Mendoza also supported the decriminalization of marijuana, and the reduction of funding to police during her 2020 run. The latter issue Mendoza addressed in a Clean Elections Commission town hall event.

Mendoza said police funding should be reallocated to social service programs, such as those that would provide economic stability, environmental safety, healthcare, housing, and public education.

“I support the reallocation of funding to programs that would allow people to live their best lives,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza’s current campaign denied that her support for reallocating police funding was equivalent to defunding the police.

Last week, Mendoza reportedly held a closed-door campaign event with an organization that has advocated for the defunding of police, Reproductive Freedom For All, who has endorsed Mendoza.

Mendoza’s current platform doesn’t mention decriminalizing prostitution or marijuana, nor does it mention defunding the police. Mendoza’s platform provides a general focus on costs, jobs, healthcare, policing, climate, government accountability, veterans, and foreign relations. 

Mendoza did provide some specifics on policy in her platform. On immigration, Mendoza advocates for legal pathways to citizenship for those who enter the country illegally while limiting deportations to violent criminals.

Mendoza also supports increased government subsidization in renewable energy and healthcare. 

Mendoza is running to unseat incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Republican. She’s pulled a number of key Democratic endorsements, including Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), former Reps. Gabby Giffords and Tom O’Halleran, former Arizona Democratic Party Chair Raquel Teran, and former Democratic congressional candidate Kirsten Engel.

The political action committee founded by Gallego’s former best friend and former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, has also provided campaign support to Mendoza. 

So far, Mendoza has raised over $5.3 million for her congressional run per Federal Election Commission records. 

Beyond the political action committee founded by Swalwell, Mendoza has a slate of other top progressive organization endorsements, including EMILY’s List, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Equality PAC, Jewish Dems, and VoteVets.

Part of Mendoza’s popularity with the LGBTQ+ advocacy groups stems from her personal identity as a bisexual woman.

Mendoza formerly worked for former Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran. Mendoza served in the Marines from 1999 to 2013. 

Mendoza has also worked for the Arizona Center for Economic Progress and VetsForward. 

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.

Marlene Galán-Woods Faces Questions Over Campaign Payments To Swalwell-Linked Company

Marlene Galán-Woods Faces Questions Over Campaign Payments To Swalwell-Linked Company

By Matthew Holloway |

Arizona congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods is facing criticism from the National Republican Congressional Committee over her campaign’s past payments to a fundraising company linked to former California Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

In a statement released Friday, NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said Galán-Woods has remained silent about her campaign’s use of Findraiser, an artificial intelligence-based fundraising company tied to Swalwell.

Federal Election Commission records show Galán-Woods’ campaign committee reported multiple payments to Findraiser totaling at least $1,425 in disbursements during the 2025-2026 election cycle.

Swalwell has come under increasing scrutiny in recent days following allegations of sexual misconduct and assault made by multiple women. Swalwell has denied the allegations.

The controversy has also led to renewed attention on political figures and campaigns that maintained ties to Swalwell or companies connected to him.

In its statement, the NRCC argued Galán-Woods should sever ties with the company and explain why her campaign continued to use the service after the allegations against Swalwell became public.

“Democrat Marlene Woods owes voters an answer: Why hasn’t she dumped Eric Swalwell’s company?” Petersen said. “Her campaign’s close financial relationship with Swalwell is disgraceful.”

In another statement, Petersen described Swalwell’s reputation as a “creep” as an “open secret” in the Democratic Party, and criticized Galán-Woods for her response to the scandal, saying, “Democrat Marlene Woods bragged about Eric Swalwell’s support, then refused to say a word about the rape allegations against him for nearly a week. Shame on her protecting her fellow Democrat.”

Galán-Woods responded to criticism over her past ties to Swalwell in a post on X, calling the allegations against him “abhorrent and credible.”

“He, or anyone else who assaults women or abuses their position of power, has absolutely no place in Congress. Full stop,” Galán-Woods wrote.

Galán-Woods argued that Republican criticism centers on an endorsement she received from Swalwell during an earlier election cycle, before the allegations became public. She also accused Republican candidate Jay Feely of hypocrisy for previously accepting an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Findraiser was co-founded in early 2024 by Swalwell and Yardena Wolf, his former congressional chief of staff, as an AI-based fundraising platform aimed at Democratic candidates and committees.

Swalwell and Wolf personally promoted the company to fellow Democrats and lawmakers, according to NOTUS reports. A Democratic operative reportedly told the outlet, “He is relentless in pushing [Findraiser],” adding, “He’s peddling the shit out of that thing.”

Recent reporting from Politico indicated that several Democratic campaigns and committees have begun distancing themselves from Findraiser following the allegations against Swalwell and the resulting political fallout.

The payments to Findraiser are relatively small in dollar amounts, but the issue could become politically significant as Republicans seek to tie Democratic candidates to Swalwell amid the fallout surrounding the allegations against him.

Galán-Woods is running as a Democrat in Arizona’s First Congressional District and is facing nine other Democrats in the primary, including state Rep. Amish Shah, who led her by 21.5 points in a February HighGround poll. Shah lost to incumbent Republican Rep. David Schweikert by 16,572 votes, or 3.8 percentage points, in 2024.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.

Ciscomani Backs Estate Tax Relief, Farm Safety Net Programs As Congress Debates Farm Bill

Ciscomani Backs Estate Tax Relief, Farm Safety Net Programs As Congress Debates Farm Bill

By Matthew Holloway |

Rep. Juan Ciscomani’s (R-AZ06) support for federal tax and agriculture policy measures are being applauded as Congress continues work on a new Farm Bill and debates the future of expiring tax provisions.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) said Ciscomani backed efforts to double the federal estate tax exemption—commonly referred to by Republicans as the “death tax”—and supported legislation that includes approximately $66 billion in funding for farm safety net programs.

The measures are aimed at helping family farms remain financially viable and allow operations to be passed down to future generations.

“Family farmers are the backbone of this country, and Representative Juan Ciscomani has delivered real results to protect their livelihoods and their legacy,” NRCC spokesperson Ben Petersen said. “While others talk, Representative Ciscomani is taking action to support Arizona’s farmers and producers.”

The statement also criticized Democratic policies, alleging they negatively impact farmers and agricultural producers.

In a related post to X celebrating National Agriculture Day on March 24, Ciscomani said, “Today, we celebrate the incredible contributions of hardworking Arizonans who rise before the sun and work tirelessly to feed America. Your dedication keeps our local communities strong. Thank you for all that you do, today and every day!”

Farm safety net programs, typically addressed through federal Farm Bill legislation, include commodity support, crop insurance, and disaster assistance for agricultural producers.

Federal estate tax policy and agricultural funding have been ongoing points of debate in Congress, particularly as many farm-facing provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expired at the end of 2025 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture .

Ciscomani, who represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, has previously supported legislation related to tax relief and agricultural policy and has highlighted support for farmers and ranchers as part of his legislative priorities.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.

NRCC Highlights Ciscomani’s Record Ahead Of Competitive CD6 Race

NRCC Highlights Ciscomani’s Record Ahead Of Competitive CD6 Race

By Matthew Holloway |

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a new installment of its “Inside the Majority” video series spotlighting Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) on Wednesday. Ciscomani’s Southern Arizona district is rated a “Toss-Up” by the Cook Political Report ahead of the 2026 election.

The NRCC describes the series as highlighting Republican members viewed as critical to maintaining GOP control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The episode featuring Ciscomani is available on YouTube and on X:

Arizona’s 6th Congressional District is considered one of the most competitive House races in the country. The Cook Political Report currently rates the district as a “Toss-Up,” reflecting its narrow partisan split.

Ciscomani first won the seat in 2022 by approximately 1.5 percentage points after the district flipped from Democratic to Republican control. He was reelected in 2024 by roughly 2.5 percentage points, increasing his margin and adding more than 5,000 votes to his prior total.

Ciscomani is currently the only declared Republican candidate in the race and was endorsed by President Donald Trump in an April 2025 post to Truth Social. The President wrote, “Congressman Juan Ciscomani is a Tremendous Champion for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District! As a Member of the POWERFUL Appropriations Committee, Juan is fighting hard to Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Vets, Support our Great Law Enforcement, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Juan Ciscomani has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

In the video, Ciscomani discusses his immigration background and legislative priorities.

“My name is Juan Ciscomani and I was born in Mexico,” Ciscomani says in the segment. “I immigrated with my family when I was 11 years old, and then, after a long process, became a U.S. citizen along with my family back in 2006. Sixteen years after becoming a U.S. citizen, I became a member of the United States Congress.”

Ciscomani references his first bill to pass the House, which focused on expediting veterans’ disability claims and expanding workforce opportunities for transitioning service members.

He also highlights the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which he says is intended to prevent scheduled tax increases and expand tax relief provisions.

“The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is having an immediate and enormous impact in the district,” Ciscomani says in the video. “Not only does it avoid the cliff of a lot of taxes going up by the thousands in my district, but it also introduces great ways to have people keep their hard earned money. These are all quick and immediate ways that people will be able to see the benefits of this act.”

According to NRCC materials, the legislation includes provisions related to the Child Tax Credit, the standard deduction, Social Security taxation, tipped wages, overtime pay, and savings accounts.

NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said Ciscomani’s district is central to the party’s majority strategy.

“Juan Ciscomani embodies what it means to be an effective representative—he shows up, listens and delivers results on the issues that matter most to Arizona families,” Petersen said. “From securing the border to ensuring water reliability and supporting our veterans, Juan has proven he’s a fighter for Arizona.”

Speaking to his motivations for serving in Congress, Ciscomani observed, “When I look at my kids in the future that I want for them, which is for them to find their path and have a shot at the American dream. What motivates me is my family and all those families out there that I want them to have a real opportunity in this country to go pursue their own version of the American dream. That’s what motivates me, so that we can do what we do here. To have families out there at home can go do what they were called to do.”

When first elected to Congress in 2022, Ciscomani became the first naturalized U.S. citizen born in Mexico elected to represent Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee and has advocated for federal funding for infrastructure, border security, water projects, and veterans’ services within the district.

According to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings, Ciscomani reported more than $3 million in cash on hand.

The 2026 race in Arizona’s 6th District is expected to draw national attention as both parties compete for control of the narrowly divided U.S. House.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.