A Marine veteran who led combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, JoAnna Mendoza is now setting her sights on a different kind of fight: unseating a Republican incumbent in Arizona's 6th Congressional District.

Mendoza, a Democrat, is a native Arizonan who joined the military at 17. She served as a drill sergeant and gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps and led troops through combat tours in the Middle East.

She has received the endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and recently received recognition from Tucson Mayor Regina Romero during a meeting in Red Rock about gun violence prevention.

"We feel really good about where we are in the campaign," Mendoza told Tucson Spotlight.

Mendoza has outraised her primary opponents and is widely seen as the frontrunner in a Democratic field that also includes Andrew Becerra, David Bellows, Chris Donat, Victor Longoria, Miguel Olivas, Lori Reid, Benny Rodriguez and Jason Stanhibel. The winner of the July 21 primary will face Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani in November.

Ciscomani won his 2024 race against Democrat Kirsten Engel by 2.5%, making the district one of the more competitive in the state.

Mendoza outraised Ciscomani in the third quarter of 2025, bringing in about $669,000 to his $458,702, though she trails him overall in cash on hand.

Mendoza says constituents in the district want an accessible representative, and that Ciscomani has refused to hold town hall meetings with Arizonans.

The reluctance is not unique to Ciscomani: House Speaker Mike Johnson has advised Republicans against holding town halls, and the few that do take place have drawn jeers from constituents.

Beyond accessibility, Mendoza said affordability is also a top concern for district residents.

"Some people are one paycheck away from eviction," she said. "And now with the war in Iran, there already is a rise in gas prices."

The conflict in Iran has drawn intense national debate, and Mendoza has been unequivocal in her condemnation of the administration's actions.

Like many veterans of the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, she argues the United States should not be drawn into another protracted Middle East conflict.

If elected, Mendoza said she will focus on the healthcare needs of everyday Americans and veterans, noting that Ciscomani recently voted against an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, allowing many Arizonans to lose their coverage.

In February, the Department of Veterans Affairs attempted to redefine the standard for determining disability ratings, a change that if applied could cut coverage for veterans seeking treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, chronic pain and more.

"There shouldn't be this constant threat that their benefits are going to be taken away," Mendoza said.

Mendoza has repeatedly criticized Ciscomani for quietly voting along party lines and staying silent on issues that matter to Arizonans while simultaneously telling constituents he cares about their concerns.

"He's all talk," Mendoza said, pointing to Ciscomani's campaign advertising touting support for veterans while he remained silent on the VA's move to change coverage requirements.

Mendoza said she has also heard concerns about ICE enforcement. She supports public safety, she said, but as a mother she worries about indiscriminate enforcement that disregards age, location and bystanders.

Despite the long road ahead, Mendoza said she feels confident in her campaign.

"It's hard to run for public office, especially as a single mom," she said. "But as someone who has served their country for 20 years, I took an oath, and that oath is to protect or defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and that oath does not expire."

Quentin Agnello is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at qsagnello@gmail.com.

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