Eric Descheenie enters Arizona’s 2nd District race, setting up challenge to Rep. Eli Crane
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Eric Descheenie, 46, has announced his run for U.S. Congress in Arizona’s largest district. A Diné originally from Chinle, he now resides in Flagstaff.
FLAGSTAFF
Eric Descheenie, a Democrat and former Arizona House member, has officially declared his candidacy for the U.S. House in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District.
The announcement makes Descheenie one of the first entrants in a race expected to draw heavy attention leading up to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. His run sets up a direct challenge to incumbent Republican Eli Crane and could also lead to a Democratic primary against Jonathan Nez, the former Navajo Nation president.
From the Statehouse to a federal bid
Descheenie represented Arizona House District 7, which includes parts of the Navajo Nation and other rural communities in the northeast. After winning the 2016 election, he served from Jan. 9, 2017, to Jan. 13, 2019. He sat on committees covering energy, environment and natural resources, military and veterans, and regulatory affairs. His portfolio reflected priorities for tribal communities as well as Arizona’s rural and military voters.
His legislative record includes bills tracked by BillTrack50, though public summaries of outcomes are limited. During the 2017 session he took part in debates over energy policy, environmental protection and regulation.
Before his House term, Descheenie ran for the state Senate in 2014 in District 7, losing the Democratic primary to then-incumbent Carlyle Begay with 28.8% of the vote; Begay took 43.2%, and Jamescita Peshlakai received 28%. He did not seek re-election in 2018 and returned to private life until this week’s federal announcement. His 2014 run drew endorsements from Navajo Nation Council delegates, including Nez, now a potential primary rival.
Redrawn after the 2020 census, Arizona’s 2nd District covers more than half the state, sweeping in tribal nations, rural areas and fast-growing suburban stretches. Republicans have held the seat since 2022, when Crane first won office, but Democrats see opportunities in Native voter turnout and suburban unease with Trump-aligned policies.
To read the full article, please see the Aug. 21, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.
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