Juan Ciscomani

Juan Ciscomani Bio

Juan Ciscomani III (born August 31, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Arizona’s 6th congressional district since 2023. A Republican, he was a senior adviser to former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and served as vice chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. In February 2023, Ciscomani was chosen to deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Address in Spanish, an unusual and nationally visible assignment for a freshman lawmaker.

Born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Ciscomani became the first member of his family to graduate from college. He is widely noted for his work on border and immigration policy, as well as for his outreach to Hispanic communities in his district and across the country. He lives in Tucson with his wife, Laura, and their six children.

Early Life and Background

Juan Ciscomani III was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, on August 31, 1982, and was raised in Tucson, Arizona. His upbringing in a border region shaped his early awareness of the economic and cultural connections between the United States and Mexico, a theme that would later inform his political work.

He attended Pima Community College before transferring to the University of Arizona, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and became the first member of his family to graduate from college. After finishing his studies, he worked at the University of Arizona as a program development specialist, an early role that introduced him to public-sector work and community engagement.

Family background and early exposure to civic life in Tucson gave Ciscomani a practical understanding of the issues facing working families in southern Arizona. These formative experiences helped guide his later transition into public service and political advising.

Path to US Politics

Ciscomani’s path into US politics began in 2003, when he interned for U.S. Representative Ed Pastor, a Democrat from Arizona. He followed that experience with a fellowship under Representative Loretta Sanchez, another Democratic member of the U.S. House. Ciscomani has said that working for Democrats challenged his own thinking and helped solidify where he stood politically.

In 2008, he ran unsuccessfully for the Arizona Legislature, an early campaign that gave him firsthand experience in grassroots organizing and state-level policy debates. He went on to build ties within the Tucson business and civic community, serving as vice president of outreach for the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board and the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments.

In 2015, Ciscomani joined Governor Doug Ducey’s office as a senior advisor, a position he held until 2021. He also served as vice chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, where he worked on cross-border trade, infrastructure, and cultural exchange. This period elevated his profile in Arizona Republican politics and prepared him for a run for federal office.

Juan Ciscomani Career

Early Career (2003-2014)

After his internships on Capitol Hill, Ciscomani spent several years building a career in community advocacy and civic leadership in Tucson. He worked at the University of Arizona as a program development specialist and took on volunteer and advisory roles with local boards focused on civil rights and trial court appointments.

His 2008 run for the Arizona Legislature, although unsuccessful, marked his first direct entry into electoral politics and helped him develop campaign skills and a regional donor network. Through these early roles, he became known as a bridge-builder between business groups, Latino communities, and Republican officials in southern Arizona.

2022 Congressional Election Breakthrough

In the 2022 elections, Ciscomani ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican to represent Arizona’s 6th congressional district. He faced the Democratic nominee, state Senator Kirsten Engel, in a competitive general election. Ciscomani narrowly defeated Engel, winning his first term in Congress and flipping a closely watched seat for Republicans.

During the 2023 Speaker of the House election, Ciscomani nominated Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, an early sign of his alignment with the House Republican leadership. That same year, he was chosen to deliver the Republican response to the 2023 State of the Union Address in Spanish, a high-profile moment that introduced him to a national audience.

Second Term and Re-election (2023-Present)

Ciscomani ran for a second term in Congress in 2024, again facing Democrat Kirsten Engel in a rematch that national pundits expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country. He ultimately defeated Engel in the November 2024 general election, securing another term representing Arizona’s 6th congressional district.

Early in 2025, the U.S. House passed the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, a border security bill co-sponsored by Ciscomani that enhanced penalties for individuals fleeing law enforcement at high speeds within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico or U.S.-Canada border. He has also been an active voice on Social Security policy, joining a group of House Republicans in May 2025 who wrote a letter warning about proposed cuts to the Social Security Administration and their effect on customer service.

In May 2025, Ciscomani voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, supporting a major legislative package backed by the House Republican majority. His work on border security, Social Security oversight, and bipartisan outreach in his district has defined his early congressional record.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of the defining moments of Ciscomani’s career came in February 2023, when he delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Address in Spanish. He was also nominated Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House during the contentious 2023 Speaker election, signaling his ties to House Republican leadership from his first days in office.

Juan Ciscomani Political Positions

Ciscomani has used his seat on key committees to shape his policy profile, with a particular focus on border security, immigration, and federal benefit programs. He has also weighed in on social and health-care issues, balancing his conservative base with the swing nature of his southern Arizona district.

Border and Immigration Policy

Ciscomani has said that he supports passing border security legislation in the immediate term. According to The Wall Street Journal, he has indicated that he would be open to immigration reform and to legal protections for young immigrants who came to the United States as children, often referred to as Dreamers.

In February 2025, the U.S. House passed the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, a bill co-sponsored by Ciscomani that increased penalties for individuals fleeing law enforcement at high speeds within 100 miles of the southern or northern border. The measure was part of a broader Republican push to strengthen border-related law enforcement.

Social and Health-Care Issues

Ciscomani praised the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. He has said that he opposes a nationwide ban on abortion but supports Arizona’s preexisting ban on abortions after 15 weeks. He also criticized a 2024 ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court that implemented a near-total abortion ban by enforcing an 1864 territorial law.

On health care, Ciscomani declined in 2024 to say whether he supported the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. In 2025, he stated that he cannot and will not support any legislation that reduces Medicaid benefits for vulnerable populations the program was intended to serve. He has also voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Juan Ciscomani Career Wins

Juan Ciscomani has won two consecutive general elections for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s 6th congressional district. His first victory, a narrow win in 2022, was followed by a successful rematch in 2024, demonstrating his ability to hold a competitive seat in a swing district.

U.S. House of Representatives Highlights

In 2022, Ciscomani narrowly defeated Democratic state Senator Kirsten Engel to claim Arizona’s 6th congressional district seat. He returned to face Engel again in 2024 in a rematch that national political analysts described as one of the most competitive House races in the country. Ciscomani again defeated Engel, securing his second term in Congress.

Other Wins and Achievements

Beyond his House victories, Ciscomani earned a national platform in 2023 when he was chosen to deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union Address in Spanish, a milestone for a freshman lawmaker. He has also secured passage of legislation he co-sponsored, including the 2025 Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, and has built a record of cross-border work through his earlier service as vice chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

Juan Ciscomani Family

Family Background and Personal Lineage

Juan Ciscomani III was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He became the first member of his family to graduate from college, an achievement he has often cited as a milestone in his personal and professional life. He is Protestant, a detail he has shared in public biographical material.

Personal Life

Ciscomani resides in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife, Laura. The couple has six children. His family life in southern Arizona has remained central to his identity, and he has frequently highlighted the role his wife and children play in grounding his work in Washington and back home in the district.