Lee outraised competitors in 2nd quarter, overall in East Valley's CD5
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Elizabeth Lee takes questions after a June debate. The candidate and winner of the Democratic Congressional District 5 primary also outraised her two primary competitors in both second-quarter and overall cycle fundraising, taking in more than $147,000 in contributions since July 2025.
When Elizabeth Lee zoomed ahead in the Arizona Congressional District 5 Democratic primary after polls closed July 21, it wrapped an expensive time in the state party’s politics.
Not as expensive as some races, especially District 1, but expensive just the same.
Lee and the two candidates she beat — Brian Hualde and Chris James — raised a collective $286,000 from the official Federal Elections Commission start of the cycle on July 1, 2025 through June 30 of this year.
The three candidates combined to raise about $78,000 in the second quarter of 2026.
CD 5 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, a nurse practitioner in Mesa, raked in almost $10,000 in the second quarter for a total of a little more than $23,000 for the cycle. He had less than $5,500 cash on hand as of June 30 and took out a new $15,000 loan that brought his total loan balance to almost $30,000.
James, who worked for the Small Business Administration and touts contacts throughout the federal government, only raised about $10,000 in the second quarter, but came in with momentum and cash, as he pulled in almost $117,000 in contributions throughout the yearlong cycle.
The July reports filed for the 90-day period ending June 30 show Lee pulled in about $58,000 in the second quarter of this year.
Lee, a nurse, raised more overall than the two men she defeated in the primary, hauling in more than $147,000 over the entire cycle.
Lee will likely need to raise even more money this quarter as she takes on Republican primary winner and former sheriff Mark Lamb for the Southeast Valley district seat, being vacated by Republican Andy Biggs, who’s running for governor.
After expenses, Lee had about $31,000 cash on hand as of June 30, plus $5,000 in outstanding loans.
Learn more about the campaign finances of candidates for federal office at fec.gov/data/.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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