Another U.S. House Republican candidate clinched his election more than a week after all votes were cast, affording Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) more padding for a slim majority constantly being chipped away by Trump appointments.
Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) squeezed a concession out of Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel more than a week after Election Day, Axios reported, bolstering the next Congress’s GOP majority to 219 members. The Associated Press has yet to call the race, but Ciscomani’s 6,900 vote lead on Wednesday was enough for Axios to declare it insurmountable now that 94.3% of all votes have been counted. The result is almost a mirror image of Ciscomani’s win two years ago when he defeated Engel by 5,200 votes to clinch an open seat. In a statement, the Mexico-born lawmaker thanked his wife as well as his opponent and encouraged supporters to look past the election.
“Laura and I are deeply grateful to the people of Arizona’s 6th District, and honored by the trust they’ve placed in me to continue representing our community in Congress,” said Ciscomani. “Earlier today, Kirsten Engel called to concede the race and congratulate our team on winning a second term. Now, it is time to get to work. Our country is facing big challenges and I am ready to continue tackling these issues head-on. Our top priorities — securing our border, lowering costs, and ensuring that our veterans and seniors are protected and valued – are essential to the strength and stability of our district and country. Strengthening our water infrastructure is vital to Arizona’s future, and I’ll work tirelessly to ensure that our resources support growth and opportunity for future generations.”
Ciscomani, 42, first attained his seat in the 2022 midterms, succeeding longtime Democratic Rep. Ann Leila Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) after she opted against seeking reelection. The 6th District is one of just two in Arizona that observers consider competitive, and the state’s rightward tilt and conservative Hispanic voting bloc have pushed Republican candidates like Ciscomani over the top in recent years. However, it isn’t always Republicans who win over the state’s formidable Spanish-speaking electorate: earlier this week Congressman Ruben Gallego (R-AZ) defeated Kari Lake in the state’s U.S. Senate race, a consolation prize for upper-chamber Democrats already consigned to minority status next year.
As he collects wins in the dozen or so districts yet to be called, Speaker Johnson must also contend with the siphoning away of caucus members by the nascent Trump administration. On Wednesday the president-elect tapped Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for U.S. attorney general, prompting the conservative firebrand to confidently resign his seat as he prepares for Senate confirmation hearings. Other congressmen joining the administration, and thus vacating their seats, include Reps. Mike Waltz (R-FL) for national security advisor and Lee Zeldin (R-NY) to head up the Environmental Protection Agency