Chris James (Arizona)
Chris James (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Arizona's 5th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on August 4, 2026.[source]
James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Chris James earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 1999 and a graduate degree from Western Carolina University in 2006. His career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Arizona's 5th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on August 4, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. House Arizona District 5
Richard Grayson is running in the general election for U.S. House Arizona District 5 on November 3, 2026.
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 | Richard Grayson (G)  | |
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 5
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 5 on August 4, 2026.
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 5
Thomas Feely, Travis Grantham, Daniel Keenan, Mark Lamb, and Alex Stovall are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 5 on August 4, 2026.
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andy Biggs (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Chris James completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by James' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Educating for the Future: As a proud father of three students who graduated from Gilbert public schools and are now financing their college educations with student loans, Chris understands firsthand that education is the key to long‑term economic success— not just for families, but for our entire region. From early childhood through higher education and workforce training, he believes every student in Arizona’s 5th District deserves access to high‑quality, affordable learning opportunities. And every educator deserves the support necessary to deliver an excellent education.
- Jobs & Economic Growth & Community Resilience:
Building a resilient economy that works for every community—from small businesses and startups to tribal nations, manufacturing hubs, retirees, and our frontline first responders.
Chris James believes a strong economy is built on opportunity, collaboration, and respect for all stakeholders. He will cut bureaucratic barriers and champion public‑private partnerships that leverage private innovation and public support to drive local growth. - Healthcare & Protecting Our Seniors: When Chris James’s father suffered a massive stroke, he witnessed Medicare’s 1960s‑era framework buckle under modern demands—drowning in paperwork, fighting coverage denials, and watching a lifetime of savings vanish in medical bills. No Arizonan should have to choose between their health and their financial security. As your Congressman, Chris will bring common‑sense, fiscally responsible reforms that modernize care, protect personal choice, and deliver high‑quality services without breaking the bank.
Chris values bipartisanship not as a buzzword, but as a governing principle. He knows that real progress happens when leaders rise above political divisions to focus on what actually improves people’s lives—creating jobs, supporting working families, investing in infrastructure, and protecting fundamental rights. His work across three presidential administrations and his advocacy for tribal and rural economic development have shown that he can bring people together, navigate complex systems, and drive meaningful change.
What sets Chris apart is his ability to balance big-picture vision with hands-on action. He is results-driven and pragmatic, but also deeply empathetic, understanding that every policy decision affects real people and families. Growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of rural North Carolina and later building a life in Arizona, Chris knows firsthand the challenges facing working families. He brings humility and authenticity to his leadership, always striving to listen first and act in the best interests of those he represents.
Chris is also known for his collaborative approach. Whether working with bipartisan coalitions, business leaders, or community advocates, he has a proven ability to find common ground and build consensus. His time leading the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development highlights his entrepreneurial mindset and capacity to scale impactful initiatives.
With a deep background in economic development, Chris understands that one of the most urgent responsibilities of a member of Congress is to create conditions for shared prosperity—supporting small businesses, strengthening infrastructure, expanding access to healthcare, and investing in education and workforce development. He also believes elected officials have a duty to protect democracy, defend individual freedoms, and lead with both courage and compassion.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 27, 2025
