Trump-aligned PAC mistakes Lizer for Nez in attack ad

WINDOW ROCK

A political group supporting President Donald Trump mistakenly featured former Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer, a Republican, in an attack ad targeting his former running mate, Jonathan Nez, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Eli Crane in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District.

“They’re spreading misinformation, obvious misinformation,” Nez said in an interview with the Navajo Times Friday afternoon.

The ad, produced by No Going Back PAC Inc., a super PAC aligned with Trump, twice showed Lizer’s photograph alongside Nez’s name. In one instance, Lizer appeared in a suit, holding a microphone, beside the words “ARIZONA CAN’T AFFORD JONATHAN NEZ.” The ad also included one photograph correctly showing Nez.

Lizer served as Nez’s vice president from 2019 to 2023.

Nez, a Democrat and former Navajo Nation president, called the ad rushed and said the mistake reflected a broader problem with outside political groups that pay attention to rural communities during elections without understanding their needs.

“But they didn’t do their research, right?” Nez said.

Lizer, a Trump supporter who spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, said in a separate interview that he had no knowledge of the ad before it appeared. He contacted Crane’s campaign and learned that the super PAC, not Crane’s team, had produced it.

Lizer said Crane’s campaign did not owe him an apology because it was not responsible for the ad. He had since seen a corrected version without his photograph.

“I had no knowledge about it, and I’m glad they took my picture off of there,” he said.

A spokesperson for the super PAC confirmed to news outlets that the ad had been corrected shortly after it began airing.

Federal Election Commission records identify No Going Back PAC Inc. as an independent-expenditure-only committee, which may spend unlimited amounts on elections but may not coordinate its expenditures with candidates. The group registered Sept. 1 and planned to spend more than $650,000 in the race, according to ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

The ad also revived allegations about Nez’s use of tribal funds while he was vice president. Nez denied using an official purchase card for his family and said the Florida trip at issue was official business.

“This was an official event that we went to, and it was held in Florida. We spoke there to the tribal leaders, so it was an official visit,” Nez said. “And to say that I used a P-card for my family is false.”

An Oct. 4, 2018, Navajo Times article by the late Bill Donovan reported that Frances Lester of Indian Wells, Arizona, filed allegations with the Navajo Nation Ethics and Rules Office on Sept. 14, 2018. Lester alleged that Nez used his official purchase card for a family and staff trip to Disney World and used more than $600,000 in tribal travel funds during his presidential campaign.

The 2018 article reported allegations, not findings of wrongdoing. Nez called the claims unfounded and said no hearing was held. The Navajo Times could not independently confirm how the complaint was resolved.

Nez said the allegations resurface during elections and interpreted the latest attack ads as a sign that Republicans are concerned about his challenge.

“This race, it just re-emphasizes that this race is close, very close,” he said.

He pointed to an internal campaign poll showing him trailing Crane by 2 percentage points, with a 22-point lead among independent voters. He credited volunteers knocking on doors, making calls and speaking with neighbors.

Two publicly released internal campaign polls showed different margins. A GBAO survey for Nez’s campaign of 500 voters, conducted Aug. 21-24, showed Crane leading 46% to 44%, with 10% undecided and a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.

A Peak Insights survey for Crane’s campaign of 400 voters, conducted Aug. 17-20, showed Crane leading 53% to 42%, with a margin of error of 5 percentage points.

Neither poll’s reported ballot test included Libertarian nominee Curtis Goodwin. The Cook Political Report rates the district “Likely Republican.”

Crane defeated Nez 54.5% to 45.5% in 2024, according to certified state election results.

Nez said the campaign should focus on the cost of gasoline, food, housing and rent, along with access to childcare and elder care in rural communities.

“Not everybody wants to live in the big cities,” he said. “We should be welcoming people into rural communities to live, and let’s focus on that.”

Crane’s campaign cites his support for tax cuts, tougher border enforcement, and rural economic development as reasons to re-elect him. His campaign website also highlights veterans’ services and disaster recovery.

Nez criticized what he described as unfulfilled promises from the 2024 campaign, saying families have yet to see financial relief. He also called for ending the war in Iran and shifting federal attention to household expenses.

“We need to end the war. We need to give relief to the people of this country,” he said.

Lizer said voters should examine the candidates’ positions, attend campaign events, and ask questions before casting their ballots.

“It’s a crucial election not only for Navajo but for the county and the state,” he said.

Early voting in Arizona began Oct. 7. Election Day is Nov. 3.

“I guess they don’t care to know my face,” Nez said, “but on November third, they’ll hear my voice for sure.”

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