Botched Ad Mix-Up: Super PAC Error in Arizona Congressional Race

A Slip-Up in Political Advertising: Misidentification in Congressional Race

In a new twist to the Arizona congressional race, a super PAC aligned with former President Trump released an ad targeting Democratic candidate Jonathan Nez, only to find itself in a mix-up. The ad, intended to criticize Nez, mistakenly featured images of Myron Lizer, Nez’s former vice presidential running mate, before being corrected. This incident has sparked conversations about the accuracy and timing of political advertisements.

The advertisement, funded by the No Going Back PAC based in Massachusetts, came out just ahead of the federal Columbus Day holiday. Nez, who previously served as the president of the Navajo Nation, commented on the timing, suggesting it was a rushed effort. He noted, “And they didn’t do their research obviously, because they mixed up me with my former vice president,” speaking to KJZZ. He emphasized that “Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day and diversity is our strength in this country.”

The 29-second video targeted Nez by accusing him of misusing tribal funds for a family trip to Disney World. Ironically, the individual shown in the ad, Myron Lizer, is a known conservative and Trump supporter who defended Trump’s policies in a speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

KJZZ attempted to contact both Lizer and the campaign of Eli Crane, the GOP congressman the ad supports, for comments. Neither responded immediately, nor did the No Going Back PAC. However, Lizer later stated he has requested that PACs refrain from using his image “for political gain.”

Despite their political differences, Nez and Lizer appear to agree on the ad’s misstep. Lizer, a Navajo Republican, remarked that “obviously the PAC was overzealous and careless in its release.”

The No Going Back PAC was registered with the Federal Election Commission in September, and according to the Virginia firm AdImpact, it is expected to invest over $650,000 into Arizona’s 2nd congressional district. In the previous election cycle, Nez lost to Crane by a 9% margin, while Trump carried the district by 15% against Vice President Kamala Harris.

As the upcoming election approaches, polling indicates a narrowing race, with some surveys showing Nez and Crane nearly tied. This sets the stage for a competitive rematch between Crane, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL known for his appearance on “Shark Tank,” and Nez, an Indigenous sheepherder. Nez reflected on the situation, stating, “That just shows you that there is fear amongst my opponent and his supporters in this election.” He speculated that internal polling might have revealed similar results to Crane’s campaign.

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