TUCSON — The Democratic field to challenge Republican incumbent Congressman Juan Ciscomani in 2026 continues to shrink.
On Tuesday, Chris Donat announced he has suspended his campaign for the congressional seat that represents Greenlee County and most of Graham and Cochise counties.
He said “financial realities of the race” prompted his decision.
“The endless cycle of fundraising and partisan gridlock prevents us from achieving the real change our communities need and deserve. Until we enact reforms like rank-choice voting, expanding the House of Representatives, and reforming how campaigns are financed, we will continue to slide away from democracy,” Donat said in a prepared statement.
He added he would like to see “more scientists and engineers in Congress,” and he took issue with Ciscomani’s voting record this year.
“(I)n his support of the BBB (the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ — HB1), has added significantly to the national debt, hurt local businesses in solar and electrical vehicle production (Lucid Motors in Casa Grande), and has stripped funding for 26% of his constituents’ healthcare. In addition, despite our many calls for him to do so, he has not attended any town halls to hear from the very people he represents, the most important function of a Representative in Congress. He does not deserve another term,” Donat said.
He’s the third candidate to announce withdrawal from the race since July. On July 22, Aiden Swallow announced her leaving the congressional race in order to run for the state House of Representatives in District 19, and Mo Goldman announced Aug. 13 he was leaving the congressional race to focus on his work as an immigration attorney.
The reaming field of challengers to Ciscomani include Democrats JoAnna Mendoza, Johnathan Buma and Samantha Severson; Green Party candidate Gary Swing; and independent Trevor Dickerson.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has the race a toss-up.
