Rebekah L. Sanders

The Republic | azcentral.com

Carlyle Begay could be the nation's first Navajo congressman.

The state senator is the 7th Republican to jump into the race.

State Sen. Carlyle Begay, a Navajo from Ganado, on Monday plans to jump into the crowded race for northeast Arizona's congressional seat.

He will join six other Republicans, three Democrats and an independent seeking the rare chance to win an open toss-up district.

Begay made waves three months ago, when he switched to the Republican Party after joining the Arizona Legislature in 2013 as a Democrat. He plans to serve out his term as he campaigns, he told The Arizona Republic.

If Begay wins the 1st Congressional District, he will become the first Navajo in U.S. history to serve in Congress.

"My purpose is to continue ... providing a voice for a district that has long been ignored and overlooked," said Begay, 35. "I think I could make a significant difference representing rural and tribal communities in Washington, D.C., especially as a person that has fresh conservative ideas ... and especially as someone born and raised in" the district.

The seat is open as U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., runs for Senate. Kirkpatrick grew up on the Fort Apache Reservation and won elections with huge support among Navajo and other tribal voters. The district stretches from the Grand Canyon to Casa Grande.

Begay will face competition in the GOP primary from:

His fellow state lawmaker, Arizona House Speaker David Gowan, of Sierra Vista.

White Mountains businessman Gary Kiehne.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.

Former Air Force pilot Wendy Rogers, who lives in Tempe but owns a vacation home in Flagstaff.

Former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett, a Prescott native who moved to the Valley and now lives in Maricopa.

Fellow Navajo Nation member Shawn Redd, a businessman.

Republicans' worries about the primary free-for-all have intensified since controversies have erupted around the two presumed front-runners.

Babeu had to fix candidate paperwork that was filed in the wrong district and was criticized for a newsletter, paid for by the Sheriff's Office, that opponents have called political mail. He faced renewed attacks over his leadership at a school investigated for its disciplinary methods and his relationship with a Mexican immigrant who outed him as gay in 2012.

Gowan has hired pricey staffers at the Capitol and racked up more than $12,000 in travel expenses taxpayers shouldn't have paid for. He reimbursed the state for the travel costs last month.

Begay said he expects to have campaign support from Native American members of Congress and other leaders.

"My decision to seek (the 1st District) was as the result of a culmination of rural and tribal leaders urging me to run," Begay said. "The reason for pushing me is they were afraid of the field of candidates in the race now. These are candidates that probably don't understand the issues and needs in (the district)."

Having grown up as a shepherd on the Navajo Nation, Begay said his roots are important. He introduced a bill recently to prevent student athletes from being forced to remove a religious or cultural hairpiece, as happened to Navajo girls wearing traditional hair buns during a basketball game.

"I was raised by a generation and family that is very different than today. I was raised by a grandmother who never stepped a day of her life in a classroom, never learned to speak English, never learned to read or write," said Begay, a University of Arizona alum. "I grew up near sandstone rocks on the hillsides (where) footprints were engraved ... from generations before me."

Though critics have questioned Begay's northern Arizona residency due to his keeping a home in Gilbert, voter records and his service on a Gilbert commission, the challenge was dropped. Begay says the home is a convenient, family-owned stopover when traveling to and from his district and the Legislature.

Creating jobs, improving education and increasing self-determination for district communities will be priorities for his campaign, he said.

"A lot of Democratic politicians have embraced hope and change but have not been able to deliver results," Begay said. "Many communities in (the district) are losing hope" due to high unemployment rates, he said.

Begay said he was proud his bill expanding private-school vouchers to tribal communities was signed into law last year. Native American families snapped up applications for Empowerment Scholarships, he said. He supports a proposal to offer private-school vouchers to all Arizona K-12 students.

A Republic investigation found most children using the program are leaving high-performing public schools in wealthy districts.

Opposition to the bill is frustrating, Begay said.

"This is why I switched parties. There tends to be a political ideology: 'Are you a supporter of public education or school choice?'" he said. "That makes it more about the system ... than simply the focus on quality education."

Begay said the 2016 presidential race is still being sorted out, but that if Donald Trump won the GOP nomination, Begay would "seek to have a working relationship with whoever the nominee is, to be the voice of tribal communities. I will ensure they understand the unique needs and priorities in (the district)."

The best-known Democrat in the congressional race is former state lawmaker Tom O'Halleran, who lives in Sedona and was a police officer and businessman. James Maloney and Miguel Olivas are also running as Democrats. Brian Edward Malnes is an independent.

The campaign will take an odd turn if Begay and O'Halleran face off in the general election. Begay is a former Democrat who turned Republican. O'Halleran is a former Republican who turned independent and then Democrat.