JoAnna Mendoza Triumphs Over Incumbent Juan Ciscomani: Republicans’ Disastrous Energy Policy Cost Him Re-Election

PHOENIX— Tonight, Democrat JoAnna Mendoza defeated Republican Juan Ciscomani in a victory for the people of Arizona. By electing Mendoza to Congress, Arizonans made their disapproval of Republicans’ energy policy known: from the war in Iran that is driving up gas and diesel prices, to the clean energy cuts and data centers with no guardrails that drove up utility bills. According to a recent poll, close to 80% of Arizonans say electricity bills have increased in the past two years, and more than 60% say their summer utility bills are difficult to afford.

Time and time again, Republicans like Ciscomani blocked the path to cheaper, faster, cleaner energy, and now Arizona families and businesses are paying for it three times over — at the pump, on their utility bills, and through the data centers polluting their communities. Despite signing letters saying that clean energy investments were creating jobs and lowering energy costs, Ciscomani voted to gut them anyway because Trump told him to. Mendoza will tackle corporate greed and pollution, put guardrails on utility bill-raising, polluting data centers, and lower utility costs by investing in affordable clean energy for rural Arizona.

Mendoza said it best in a September interview: “Well, look, clean energy investments would have diversified our energy. We probably wouldn’t be looking at high gas prices, electricity bills right now if we had done this many, many years ago.” 

“The people of Southern Arizona deserve leaders who are looking out for us and ensuring that we can afford to fill our gas tank, keep our lights on, and have access to health care, and that’s why they elected JoAnna Mendoza,” said Climate Power’s Arizona State Director Diali Avila. “Juan Ciscomani and his fellow Republicans rubber-stamped Trump’s agenda at every turn, and now they’re paying the price. Arizonans need relief from skyrocketing costs, and JoAnna Mendoza will work to bring down costs for Arizonans—not enrich oil and gas billionaires.” 

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