Republican candidate wins primary for Ruben Gallego’s House seat but faces tough competition in November.
On Tuesday, the pro-Trump GOP candidate Jeff Zink emerged victorious in the primary for Arizona’s heavily Democratic 3rd Congressional District. In this crucial southwestern battleground, Zink defeated Jesús David Mendoza, a software engineer and political newcomer who ran as a more moderate Republican.
Zink’s win comes as he previously made headlines for attending former President Trump’s “Stop The Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, which ultimately led to a riot at the U.S. Capitol. Despite his victory, Zink remains a long shot candidate in this majority Latino and Hispanic district that includes significant portions of Phoenix.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report ranks Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District as D+24, making it the most left-wing district in the state. This seat is being vacated by Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is now running for Senate against Republican candidate Kari Lake in November. Gallego, a progressive military veteran, took over the district in 2023 after representing Arizona’s 7th Congressional District since 2015.
Gallego’s move to the Senate race has left his House seat up for grabs in what is expected to be a closely watched election. Stay tuned for updates on this developing political story in Arizona.
