Rising GOP Star Defeats McCarthy-Backed Rival in Arizona Showdown

Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) fought off a primary challenge against a candidate he tried to link to Speaker Kevin McCarthy who was ousted last year.

Jack Smith, a member of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and former candidate for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, had challenged Crane to the seat.

Smith, who is a McCarthy ally, reportedly provided Smith with indirect financial support to run against the freshman.

Crane had portrayed Smith as someone who was funded by Washington D.C. “swamp.”

Kevin McCarthy recruited an ambitious man named Jack Smith for my primary. Crane told The Arizona Republic that no one in the district had asked him to run. “He’s just a corrupt swamp monster who is bitter because he lost power,” he said in an email to raise money.

Smith accused Crane, who refused to debate the issue at hand, of betraying his party with his vote. Smith also dismissed comparisons to the former speaker, saying he’d never met him.

If you just want to call me a McCarthy supporter, then that’s fine. Smith told the Republic that he would be happy to work with Kevin McCarthy to bring some reality to the district.

The legislature originally planned to hold Tuesday’s primary elections on August 6 but changed the date to give more time for a possible recount.

Arizona is an important state. There are multiple races for the House, Senate, and the Presidential contest. All of these could be decided by a small margin.

The Republicans have a slim majority in the state legislature. However, Democrats hope to gain control of both chambers.

The race to replace Sen. Kyrsten S. Sinema who will not seek another term is the one that has attracted the most attention.