Candidate Q&A: District 5 U.S. House Democratic hopefuls

Which Democratic Party candidate has the best chance of filling the Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Andy Biggs?

That’s what will be determined in the July 21 U.S. House of Representatives Arizona District 5 primary.

Three Democratic Party challengers will face off for the privilege to compete against either Mark Lamb or the other Republican, Daniel Keenan, and claim the seat.

Blake Bracht made the Democratic Party ballot, but dropped out. Brian Hualde, Chris James and Elizabeth Lee will compete for the Democratic nomination.

District 5 will have the empty seat because current Rep. Andy Biggs is stepping down at the end of his fifth term as he competes for Arizona governor.

The district includes the towns of Gilbert, San Tan Valley and Queen Creek and the Sun Lakes area, along with the southern and eastern parts of Chandler and eastern Mesa, laying in both Maricopa and Pinal counties.

Hualde lives in Mesa; James and Lee live in Gilbert.

Here are the questions and answers from the three Democrats:

Brian Hualde

Brian Hualde of Mesa is one of the challengers seeking the Democratic Party nomination in the July 21 U.S. House of Representatives Arizona District 5 primary.

Courtesy of Brian Hualde

Age: 42

Current city of residence: Mesa

Hometown: Phoenix

Occupation: Nurse practitioner, U.S. Army Veteran
Most relevant experience: Army medic, health care provider, father of six, community volunteer

Why did you choose to run? As a veteran, health care provider, and father of six, I see families struggling with rising costs and political division. I’m running to bring practical solutions, accountability, and a commitment to putting Arizona families ahead of partisan politics.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing CD5 residents heading into the next Congressional session? Affordability. Families are struggling with housing costs, health care expenses, and everyday necessities.

People want economic security, opportunities for their children, and leaders focused on solving problems instead of creating political distractions.

What do you plan to do to address this issue in Washington? I’ll work to lower health care costs, expand housing supply, protect Social Security and Medicare, support workforce development, and reduce barriers that drive up costs for families while encouraging economic growth and good-paying jobs.

What do you feel is your standout characteristic or experience that makes you the best candidate for the position? My experience serving as an Army medic and health care provider taught me to listen, solve problems, and put people first.

I understand the challenges families face because I live them every day as a husband and father.

What’s an example of an issue you believe could be where common ground is found by the political parties during the next session? Border security, affordable housing, veteran care, reducing prescription drug costs, and protecting critical water resources. These issues affect everyone and offer opportunities for bipartisan solutions that strengthen Arizona communities and the nation.

Chris James

Chris James of Gilbert is one of the challengers seeking the Democratic Party nomination in the July 21 U.S. House of Representatives Arizona District 5 primary.

Courtesy of Chris James

Age: 51

Current city of residence: Gilbert

Hometown: Cherokee, North Carolina.

Occupation: CEO, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

Most relevant experience: Oversaw half the U.S. Small Business Administration’s workforce. Overall in career, secured more than $700 million in grants and funding to local and underserved communities.

Why did you choose to run? I know Washington enough to hit the ground running. Republicans think they’ve guaranteed the House majority with gerrymandering and dirty tricks before any of us have cast a vote and flipping this district throws a wrench in the extremist MAGA megaphones’ scheme.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing CD5 residents heading into the next Congressional session? The economy. Trump’s tariffs have raised prices on everyone; it’s a tax. The Iran war of choice has gas prices close to or over $5 a gallon.

Housing is unaffordable. People are squeezed, and we have a Congress that acts like a rubber stamp.

What do you plan to do to address this issue in Washington? End tariffs; restore massive cuts; Congress needs to reassert its authority through the War Powers Act to bring an end to military adventurism.

What do you feel is your standout characteristic or experience that makes you the best candidate for the position? My experience. I spent my whole career supporting small businesses and building economies.

That was my focus when I was appointed by President Obama, and it has been my focus here in the East Valley as a nonprofit leader.

What’s an example of an issue you believe could be where common ground is found by the political parties during the next session? Housing could be. Shelter is not a want but a need. First-time homebuyer credits, reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie MAC.

Health care is another. Slashed Medicaid means we’re set to lose three hospitals in this district alone.

Elizabeth Lee

Elizabeth Lee of Gilbert is one of the challengers seeking the Democratic Party nomination in the July 21 U.S. House of Representatives Arizona District 5 primary.

Courtesy of Elizabeth Lee

Age: 43

Current city of residence: Gilbert

Hometown: Dover, Ohio

Occupation: Reproductive health nurse, health care systems leader and patient advocate

Most relevant experience: Diagnosing and treating operational failures inside complex health care systems and implementing scalable solutions that improve access, accountability and patient outcomes.

Why did you choose to run? I’m running because I’ve spent 15 years solving real-world problems at the bedside and inside broken systems while politicians debate them from a distance.

I know how policy succeeds or fails operationally and how those failures impact real families in real time.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing CD5 residents heading into the next Congressional session? Affordability. Families are being crushed by rising health care, housing, child care, utility and education costs. When basic stability becomes unaffordable, everything else, opportunity, health and long-term security, starts to erode.

What do you plan to do to address this issue in Washington? I’ll focus on lowering health care and prescription costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, strengthening public education and workers’ bargaining power and closing loopholes that reward wealth instead of work.

What do you feel is your standout characteristic or experience that makes you the best candidate for the position? I bring something rare: Frontline healthcare experience combined with operational leadership.

I’ve spent years identifying system failures, improving access and implementing scalable solutions where outcomes, accountability and people’s lives were all on the line.

What’s an example of an issue you believe could be where common ground is found by the political parties during the next session? Lowering health care costs. Americans across the political spectrum are exhausted by insurance denials, high premiums and prescription prices.

Reducing administrative waste and increasing transparency should not be partisan issues.

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