Here are the candidates running in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District – The Arizona Republic

The northeastern corner of Arizona that largely includes the state's current 1st Congressional District is again considered up for grabsin the upcoming 2022 election cycle.

The final boundaries for the new district won't be set by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission for at least several weeks, but the area is expected to retain its traditional political competitiveness.

Arizona has nine congressional districts and Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., is in his third two-year term on Capitol Hill.

The 1st District is now largely rural and includes Apache, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee, and Navajo countiesas well asparts of Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties.

The redistricting commission hopes to complete mapping by Dec.22, and the Arizona Secretary of State's deadline is Jan.2.

At least for now, here are the major candidates running in Arizona's 1st District:

O'Halleran, a relatively moderate Democrat,is the incumbent in the 1st District. He won his seat in the 2016 elections, and won additional terms in 2018 and 2020.

On his campaign website, O'Halleran said he will"continue working across the aisle to find solutions to the challenges our communities face."

O'Halleran's website features alist of campaign issues, including a detailed job plan that highlights issues such as training and education on tribal lands, investing in education, supporting community colleges, and workforce development.

Other priorities cover modernizing taxes and giving Americans a "well-deserved raise."O'Halleran voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Also included is fighting against privatizing Social Security and Medicare, ensuring veteran's benefits and health care, and supporting immigration reform to secure the border, keep families together and supporting the DREAM Act.

Before his congressional career, O'Halleran served in the Arizona Senate from 2006 to 2009 and in the Arizona House of Representatives between 2001 to 2006 as a Republican. Heleft the GOP in 2014.

WaltBlackmanserves in the Arizona House of Representatives. Blackman, R-Snowflake,was the first BlackRepublican representative to be elected to the state House.

Blackman'swebsite includes campaign issuessuch as border security, improving health care access for veterans, reforming criminal justice to promote successful reintegration of former inmates,getting tough onChina, protecting the Second Amendment, restricting abortion rightsand protecting election integrity.

Blackman faced a backlash earlier this year after sponsoring an unsuccessful"homicide by abortion bill,"which would have allowed prosecutors to chargewomen who get abortions and the doctors who perform them with homicide.

Blackman took office in 2019 and his current term ends in 2023. Before politics, Blackmanserved in the U.S Army for 21 years.

Veteran and business ownerEli Cranealso aimsto unseat O'Halleran.

His campaign website describesCrane as "a faith oriented, family man and is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and unafraid to take a stand against cancel culture and the radical left."

The race is Crane's first time seeking public office. The issues listed on his campaign website include strengthening border laws and "empowering frontline agents and officers to enforce the laws Congressand apprehended and return illegal border crossers."

Crane's other topissuesinclude strengthening the economy by fighting for lower taxes, fewer regulations and pro-growth policies. He wants to make voting more restrictive, in part through tougher ID requirements and by limiting mail-in balloting. Additionally, he favors more aid to veterans andthe military, especially for counter-intelligence.

Crane served in the U.S. Navy from 2001 to 2014 and created Bottle Breacher, a bottle opener company that he says employs and supports veterans.

Ron Watkinsmade headlines after announcing his run for Congress, after he was believed to be the author behind some QAnon conspiracy posts, but he has deniedthe allegations. Watkins' ties to QAnon surfaced after a bulletin board website of his became home to QAnon postings. In his campaign announcement video, Watkins says his run for Congress was motivated by the 2020 election.Watkins has completed paperwork with the Federal Elections Committee but hasnot launcheda campaign website.

John Moore, a "Strong Constitutional Conservative" according to his campaign website, says he is running for Congress to return politicalpower to the American people. Moore is a retired police chief and the current mayor of Williamsin Northern Arizona.The three top campaign issues listed on Moore's campaign website are quality education, border security and VA reform. Moore has filed paperwork with the FEC.

Katherine "Kat"Gallanthas not held public office before but has a political history in Mesa. As a former hair salon owner, Gallant ran for Mesa mayor in 1995 but did not win office. In 1997, Gallant went on a "freedom ride" across the country in protest of a voter-approved1996 law that banned smoking in most public places in Mesa. Gallant's campaign website calls for stronger border security policies, fighting election corruption and fraud, and holding those in office responsible. Gallant has yet to file with the FEC.

Andy Yates is asmall business owner in Arizona. Some of theissues listed on Yates' campaign websiteincludestanding up to China, border security by finishing the wall and a "merit-based" immigration reform, law enforcement empowerment, defending the Constitution and championing deregulation.Yates sayshe can create "commonsense conservativesolutions" to thoseissues. Yates has filed paperwork with the FEC.

Steve Beaver formerly served in the U.S Navy and Army National Guard. According to Beaver's campaign website, Beaver is campaigning on national security, including expanding the defense budget, campaign finance reform, border security, and building a strong community supporting small businesses and tax reductions. Beaver has yet to fill out paperwork with the FEC.

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Here are the candidates running in Arizona's 1st Congressional District - The Arizona Republic