Misidentification Sparks Controversy in Political Ad Targeting Arizona’s 2nd District Race
A recent campaign ad funded by a super PAC allied with former President Trump has stirred controversy due to a major error. This ad, which supports Arizona GOP Congressman Eli Crane, mistakenly identified his Democratic rival, Jonathan Nez, by showing images of Nez’s former vice president, Myron Lizer. The error was corrected after the initial release, but not before it caught significant attention.
Jonathan Nez, the former president of the Navajo Nation, highlighted the timing of the ad by the Massachusetts-based No Going Back PAC, noting its release shortly before the Columbus Day holiday, which is controversial for many. He criticized the PAC’s apparent haste, stating, “And they didn’t do their research obviously, because they mixed up me with my former vice president,” as reported by KJZZ. Nez also emphasized the importance of diversity, saying, “Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day and diversity is our strength in this country.”
The 29-second ad accuses Nez of using tribal funds for a personal trip to Disney World, but it mistakenly uses two images of Lizer, who is a known conservative and Trump supporter. Lizer had even defended Trump’s policies at the 2020 Republican National Convention.
KJZZ sought comments from both Lizer and Rep. Crane’s campaign. Initially, there was no response, but Lizer later requested that PACs refrain from using his image for political purposes, stating, “for political gain.” He and Nez, despite their political differences, seemed to agree on the mishap, with Lizer calling the PAC “overzealous and careless.”
The No Going Back PAC, registered in September with the Federal Election Commission, plans to spend over $650,000 in Arizona’s 2nd congressional district, according to Virginia firm AdImpact. In the previous election cycle, Nez was defeated by Crane by 9%, and Donald Trump won the district by a margin of 15% over Vice President Kamala Harris. However, recent polls indicate that this year’s race may be much more competitive, with some showing Nez and Crane nearly tied.
This rematch features contrasting backgrounds: Crane, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and former “Shark Tank” contestant, versus Nez, an Indigenous leader. Nez commented on the situation, suggesting that the ad reflects his opponent’s anxiety about the upcoming election, stating, “That just shows you that there is fear amongst my opponent and his supporters in this election.”
