Elizabeth Lee (Arizona)
Elizabeth Lee (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Arizona's 5th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on August 4, 2026.[source]
Lee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Elizabeth Lee earned a high school diploma from Dover High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University in 2005 and an associate degree from the Carrington College of Nursing in 2013. Her career experience includes working as a nurse, consultant, and healthcare advocate.[1][2]
Lee has been affiliated with the following organizations:[2]
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine
- ASRM Center for Policy Leadership
- Pacific Coast Reproductive Society
- Reproductive Freedom for All
- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
- Arizona State Board of Nursing
- Greater National Advocates
- Scouting America, MoveOn
- Healthcare Rising
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
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Arizona District 5 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Andy Biggs (R) | |
 | Blake Bracht (D)  | |
| Chris James (D) | ||
 | Evan Olson (D) | |
 | Thomas Feely (R) | |
 | Travis Grantham (R) | |
| Daniel Keenan (R) | ||
 | Alex Stovall (R) | |
 | Richard Grayson (G) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 5
Brian Hualde and Elizabeth Lee are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 5 on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Brian Hualde | |
 | Elizabeth Lee | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
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
Elizabeth Lee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lee's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- I know firsthand that healthcare is not a privilege but a human right. I grew up battling a mysterious illness that went undiagnosed for years, and it was only after becoming a nurse that I began to crack my own medical mystery. That experience shaped my life and ignited my determination to fight for every patient who has been overlooked, dismissed or priced out of care. As a board-certified Reproductive Health and Infertility Nurse and a board-certified Patient Advocate, I have stood with families navigating impossible choices between treatment and survival. In Washington I will fight to guarantee that no one is left behind, no child denied care and no family bankrupted for the right to live.
- I am the product of public schools, and I know the power of a strong education system to shape lives and communities. But our state ranks near the bottom in funding, and too often taxpayer dollars are siphoned into private schools that face no transparency or accountability. Every child, regardless of zip code or family income, deserves access to safe classrooms, qualified teachers and the resources they need to succeed. Public dollars belong in public schools, and I will fight in Washington to ensure Arizona invests in its students instead of subsidizing unregulated private institutions.
- Across this country families are being crushed by a housing crisis that shows no sign of slowing. Rents are skyrocketing, home ownership feels out of reach and even families working two jobs can’t keep a roof over their heads.
A major driver of this crisis is corporations and private equity firms buying up homes, inflating prices and treating shelter like a commodity instead of a basic human need. We must reject a system that rewards greed over stability and take bold steps to make housing affordable again.
In Washington I will fight to curb corporate control of real estate and put the dream of safe, affordable housing back within reach for Arizona families.
But my respect extends beyond them to anyone willing to put themselves out there to serve. Public service demands vulnerability, resilience and an unwavering commitment to something greater than yourself. It takes sacrifice and a willingness to withstand criticism in order to fight for the needs of your neighbors and your community. That kind of courage is what inspires me most, and it’s the kind of leadership I strive to embody.
A commitment to truthfulness with constituents, colleagues and the public record is a crucial component of taking responsibility for decisions, admitting mistakes and correcting course.
Ensuring that motives, funding and decision-making processes are clear and accessible to the public helps garner trust and demonstrate a willingness to stand for what is right, even when it is unpopular or politically costly. Ensuring policies protect the vulnerable and promote fairness across race, gender, income, and ability is a key tenet of our movement.
Listening to understand the lived experiences of constituents, especially those who feel unheard, and placing community well-being above personal ambition or special interests helps upholds the dignity, freedoms, and rights of every individual.
A legislator’s job is crucial and requires a deep understanding of issues, policies and systems, paired with the ability to craft and pass meaningful legislation.
Building coalitions and working across differences to achieve solutions helps to articulate a clear and forward-looking plan for progress, balancing idealism with realistic steps that achieve measurable results.
Legislatively, drafting, debating, and voting on bills by working through committees to shape federal policy on everything from healthcare to national security makes up a good deal of the core responsibilities.
They also hold the constitutional “power of the purse,” meaning all revenue and spending bills must originate in the House anc, equally important, Representatives serve as the voice of their constituents in Washington. They hold town halls, listen to community concerns, and bring those priorities into national debates and offices exist to handle casework and help constituents navigate federal programs like Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and immigration services.
What I love most is that it isn’t just a book about personal growth, it’s about service. By learning to shift from self-sabotage to self-command, we not only improve our own lives but also show up more fully for others. As someone who has faced both personal health struggles and professional challenges in healthcare and advocacy, the lessons in Positive Intelligence have been a powerful reminder that strength comes from how we choose to frame and respond to adversity. It’s a book I return to often because its message continues to ground and guide me.
I admire that kind of steadiness, that ability to keep principles intact when tested by hostility or fear. It’s the type of character I strive to live out in my own work …serving others, protecting the vulnerable, and refusing to compromise on justice, even when it isn’t popular or easy.
What was once my greatest challenge has also become my greatest motivator. Because I know firsthand how it feels to be unheard, overlooked, and failed by the very institutions meant to help, I have dedicated my career to ensuring others don’t endure the same. My struggle with health made me not only tougher, but more compassionate, and it drives my fight to make healthcare accessible, affordable
The House also holds distinctive constitutional powers. It alone can initiate revenue and spending bills, giving it the “power of the purse,” and it has the sole authority to bring articles of impeachment against federal officials. Combined with its structure of numerous committees, which allow members to specialize and shape policy in detail, the House functions as both a national legislative body and a direct voice for local communities.
and build relationships that make passing laws easier. That said, experience can also breed complacency and insularity, leading to career politicians more loyal to lobbyists than to the people they serve.
We also face existential challenges from climate change, global instability and rapid technological change. Extreme weather, cyber threats and the rise of artificial intelligence will demand bold leadership and responsible governance. Immigration and demographic shifts will test whether we choose division or embrace the workforce and families who strengthen our communities. Ultimately, America’s greatest test will be whether we can come together, invest in the public good, and restore faith that government serves the people, not the powerful few.
Whether two years is “right” depends on what we value most. If accountability and responsiveness are the highest priorities, the system works as intended. But if we want Congress to operate with more stability and less focus on fundraising and electioneering, there is a strong case for considering a longer term. In the end, the challenge isn’t just the length of service but how Representatives use their time in office to serve the people who sent them there.
Leaders like Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, demonstrated astounding courage in breaking barriers and an unwavering commitment to equity, famously declaring she was “unbought and unbossed.”
Barbara Jordan set the standard for integrity, bringing moral clarity and constitutional fidelity to her service, particularly during the Watergate hearings.
More recently, figures like Gabrielle Giffords have beautifully embodied resilience, optimism and a deep connection to her community and continuing to champion causes even after tragedy.
She wasn’t just fighting for her chance at motherhood. She was also fighting a healthcare system that treated her as expendable. She encountered providers who minimized her pain, insurance companies that hid behind fine print and a political environment that increasingly put reproductive care out of reach. Her spirit was fierce, but the weight of the injustice she faced was unbearable.
That said, not all compromise is equal. Giving ground on budget allocations or regulatory details can be constructive, but compromising on fundamental rights such as voting access, bodily autonomy, or equal protection under the law is unacceptable.
Too often, tax policy has been written to benefit corporations and the wealthiest few, while working families are left behind. Originating revenue bills gives the House the ability to flip that script. I would fight for a tax structure that asks the ultra-wealthy and powerful corporations to pay their fair share, and for budgets that channel resources back into communities, not lobbyists’ pockets. In short, this power is not just procedural, but instead, it’s a tool to build a fairer economy and a government that works for everyone.
When used responsibly, oversight uncovers waste and wrongdoing, shines light on issues the public deserves to know about and pressures leaders to correct course. It should never be about scoring partisan points but about defending the integrity of our institutions and restoring trust that government works for the people.
But what makes me proud is not just the professional impact. It is knowing that I have taken pain and turned it into purpose. Every time a patient feels heard, every time a family gets the care they need, every time someone realizes they are not alone, I am reminded why this work matters. That, to me, is the truest accomplishment.
Equally important, I would fight for robust protections against voter suppression and disinformation campaigns, while investing in secure voting infrastructure and audits that build public trust. Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and Congress has a responsibility to make sure every eligible American can cast a ballot that is counted.
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
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Candidate U.S. House Arizona District 5 |
Footnotes
