An Arizona GOP congressman seeking reelection in a competitive district argues that voters need to keep Republicans in power to finish the job of permanently securing the border.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani, born in Mexico and naturalized in 2006, represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, which includes the Tucson suburbs and partly touches the southern border.
In a debate Thursday, he argued voters should keep him in office so he can turn President Trump’s policies into law.
“There’s more work to do,” Mr. Ciscomani said. “We need to codify a lot of this into law to prevent another Joe Biden coming into office, or someone like my opponent being in a position of authority where they can reopen the border.”
That Democratic opponent, JoAnna Mendoza, accused him of misrepresenting her record.
“To say that I’m for open borders is not truthful,” she said, citing her military service as evidence of her devotion to defending America. “National security is always going to be a top priority.”
She proceeded to argue that the Trump administration has harmed relations with Mexico, hampering cooperation on the border.
“My opponent, quite frankly, has been there for two terms now,” Ms. Mendoza said. “And I think everyone was expecting him to actually do something, because both parties have failed in actually addressing border security.”
Mr. Ciscomani said his opponent can’t admit that border security has improved under the Republican trifecta and argued the U.S. and Mexico are cooperating more effectively than before.
“The border is way more secure today than it was under the Biden administration,” he said. “And the fact that my opponent can’t accept the fact that the border looks a lot better … is staggering, and that tells you how much she’s really willing to concede here and work across the aisle.”
The Cook Political Report lists the district as one of just 21 toss-up races in November.
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