GOP congressman gets primary challenger after voting to oust McCarthy as speaker

Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane, who voted to oust former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker, is facing a primary challenger. 

On Sunday, former Yavapai County Supervisor Jack Smith filed to run in the GOP primary for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, The Hill reported. 

Crane was one of eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy as speaker, eventually leading to Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) becoming House speaker. 

McCarthy retired from Congress in December and said that he is open to working against some of the members who ensured his ouster. 

Smith held the Yavapai County supervisor position until 2019, when former President Donald Trump named him as the Arizona director for the USDA Rural Development program. 

The Arizona primary election is July 30.