An ad funded by a Trump-aligned super PAC backing Arizona GOP Congressman Eli Crane began attacking his Democratic opponent, Jonathan Nez, on Friday. But the video was botched, misidentifying Nez twice — before the error was corrected.
The former Navajo Nation president pointed out the Massachusetts-based No Going Back PAC responsible for producing the campaign ad released it just days before the controversial federal Columbus Day holiday.
Nez thinks they were in a rush.
“And they didn’t do their research obviously, because they mixed up me with my former vice president,” he told KJZZ. “Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day and diversity is our strength in this country.”
A photo of his former vice presidential running mate, Myron Lizer, appears twice while the 29-second ad references Nez — accusing him of spending tribal funds on a Disney World family vacation.
Ironically, Lizer is an outspoken conservative and staunch Trump supporter — even defending his policies at the 2020 Republican National Convention in a pre-recorded speech from Shiprock, New Mexico.
KJZZ reached out to both Lizer and the campaign of Rep. Crane to get their reactions to the new ad. Neither immediately responded. The No Going Back PAC did not reply either when asked about the mistake. But Lizer later told KJZZ he has asked PACs to not use his name, image or likeness “for political gain.”
Despite standing on opposite ends of the partisan spectrum, the duo of Nez and Lizer have seemingly found common ground over the ad blitz. The Navajo Republican wrote “obviously the PAC was overzealous and careless in its release.”
The group registered with the Federal Election Commission in September. The Virginia firm AdImpact expects the super PAC to inject more than $650,000 into Arizona’s 2nd congressional district.
Last cycle, Nez lost the House race to Crane by 9% in 2024. That same year, candidate Donald Trump carried the conservative-leaning district in northeastern Arizona by 15% against Vice President Kamala Harris.
This time around, recent polling suggests the margin may be much closer.
One survey even showed Nez and Crane being statistically tied. This contest is shaping up to become a competitive rematch on Election Day between a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who appeared on “Shark Tank” and an Indigenous sheepherder.
“That just shows you that there is fear amongst my opponent and his supporters in this election,” added Nez. “And I’m sure they did their own internal poll and saw the same numbers that they’re in trouble.”
This story was produced by KJZZ, the public radio station in Phoenix, and published by KNAU as part of the Arizona Public Media Exchange.
