Trump-Backed PAC’s Botched Ad Sparks Controversy in Arizona Race

A recent campaign advertisement targeting Arizona’s congressional race has stirred controversy due to a significant error. Funded by a super PAC aligned with former President Trump, the ad intended to critique Jonathan Nez, a Democratic candidate, but mistakenly identified him with images of his former vice-presidential running mate, Myron Lizer.

The misstep by the Massachusetts-based No Going Back PAC occurred just days before the federal Columbus Day holiday, which Nez noted might have contributed to the oversight. “Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day and diversity is our strength in this country,” Nez remarked, suggesting a hasty release led to the confusion.

In the ad, Lizer’s image appears twice while the narration accuses Nez of misusing tribal funds for personal travel. Lizer, however, is a known conservative and Trump supporter, having defended Trump’s policies during the 2020 Republican National Convention. While the PAC has not responded to inquiries, Lizer expressed his disapproval, stating he has asked political groups not to exploit his likeness.

This misidentification has inadvertently united Nez and Lizer, despite their political differences. Lizer commented, “obviously the PAC was overzealous and careless in its release.” The PAC, registered last month, is expected to pour over $650,000 into the Arizona race.

Nez, challenging Republican Rep. Eli Crane for Arizona’s Second Congressional District, criticized two years of Republican governance. In the previous election cycle, Crane defeated Nez by a margin of 9%, with Trump carrying the district by 15%. However, current polls indicate a tighter race, with some suggesting a statistical tie between Nez and Crane.

Nez views this competitive atmosphere as indicative of his opponent’s concerns, stating, “That just shows you that there is fear amongst my opponent and his supporters in this election.”

This story was produced by KJZZ, the public radio station in Phoenix, and published by KNAU as part of the Arizona Public Media Exchange.