Republican Juan Ciscomani wins reelection in vulnerable Arizona district

Rep. John Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) has won his reelection bid in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, The Hill/Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) projects.

Ciscomani defeated Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel for the seat in the swing district representing the suburbs of Tucson, Ariz. The contest was a rematch between the two hopefuls, as the incumbent narrowly beat Engel in 2022 by roughly 2 percent.

The moderate Republican also received an endorsement earlier this year from former President Trump.

One of the top issues on the ballot in the Grand Canyon State — a key battleground in 2024 — is ensuring the right to abortion access. The procedure is banned in the state after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with a medical exception for the life of the mother, but not for rape or incest.

Proposition 139 is an amendment that would protect abortion up until fetal vitality, with exceptions deemed necessary by a physician.

Some vulnerable Republicans have spoken up about reproductive rights in recent months, seeking to distance themselves from some of the more aggressive anti-abortion proposals within the party, including Ciscomani, The Associated Press reported.

“I want you to hear directly from me: I trust women,” the GOP lawmaker said in an advertisement earlier this year, per the AP. “I cherish new life. And I reject the extremes on abortion.”

During an August debate, Engel criticized her Republican rival over his vote in favor of a House bill that would prohibit mail delivery of abortion medication and for serving on the board of a pro-life organization. The bill, however, did not make it to the House floor. 

Ciscomani, 42, pushed back at the time, accusing his Democratic counterpart of misrepresenting his position and “completely grasping for straws,” reiterating that he opposes a federal abortion ban and supports in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Before serving in the House, the Arizona Republican was a senior adviser to former GOP Gov. Doug Ducey and served as vice chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

Ahead of Election Day, The Hill/DDHQ ranked the state's 6th district as “likely Republican.”