Chris James

Chris James is a candidate for Representative in Congress District 5 Primary Election in 2026 in Congressional District 5, Arizona.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in Gilbert, AZ

Also running: Daniel Keenan, Mark Lamb, Blake Bracht, Brian Hualde, Elizabeth Lee.

Chris James is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's 5th Congressional District. A descendant of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and a longtime resident of Gilbert, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1999 and a graduate degree in 2006. James currently serves as President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, an organization dedicated to advancing Indigenous entrepreneurs. He previously held senior roles within the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Small Business Administration. James is campaigning on a platform of investing in schools, public infrastructure, and a resilient economy, while also protecting democracy from special interests and partisan extremism. He aims to bring grounded leadership and real solutions to Congress.