Eli Crane has repeatedly questioned COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, called vaccine outreach "totalitarian," and cited far-right anti-vaccine influencer Candace Owens as an inspiration (DCCC Research Memo).
He co-sponsored legislation to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO), calling the agency a "corrupt pawn of Communist China" and urging supporters to help end federal pandemic mandates (Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Republic).
Crane voted against federal efforts to end COVID-19 public health emergencies and has focused heavily on investigating the U.S. government's COVID-19 response, including actions taken by Anthony Fauci (AFL-CIO scorecard, Arizona Republic).
He was named to a GOP-led committee probing Arizona's COVID-19 policies, signaling a priority on reviewing and critiquing pandemic management (Arizona Republic).
Potential vulnerability: Crane has faced criticism, including from constituents, for allegedly supporting "anti-healthcare laws" that could negatively impact women (Arizona Daily Sun).
Eli Crane Questioned COVID-19 Vaccines and Cited Anti-Vaccine Influencer According to a press release from the DCCC Research Department, "Crane said the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine awareness canvassing was 'totalitarian' and suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine was 'not even a vaccine.' [...] Crane said that Candace Owens, a far-right influencer, was one of his influences and 'one of the most courageous people in this country.'" [Press Release - DCCC Research Memo, 9/8/22]
2023: Crane Voted Against Pandemic Is Over Act Curtailing Federal COVID-19 Response According to AFL-CIO, "Pandemic is Over Act... [Crane] Wrong" [AFL-CIO scorecard, 9/30/23]
May 2023: Eli Crane Was Named As A GOP Committee Member Investigating Arizona's COVID-19 Response According to Arizona Republic, "Other members of the committee include state Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Goodyear, and three U.S. Republican members of Congress from Arizona: Reps. Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Eli Crane." [Arizona Republic, 5/4/23]
March 2023: Rep. Eli Crane Announced Co-sponsorship Of WHO Withdrawal Act According to Arizona Daily Star, "Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., announced in a video released last week he was a co-sponsor of the WHO Withdrawal Act. The bill, introduced by fellow Rep. Andy Biggs, would compel President Joe Biden to cut ties with the World Health Organization." [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), 3/29/23]
March 2023: Rep. Eli Crane Called WHO A 'Corrupt Pawn Of Communist China' According to Arizona Daily Star, "Crane called the agency, part of the United Nations, a 'corrupt pawn of Communist China.'" [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), 3/29/23]
March 2023: Rep. Eli Crane Urged Support For WHO Withdrawal Act In Video Statement According to Arizona Daily Star, "'How many of you guys liked the fact that in this country, if you lived in a blue state or had a governor that was all about the lockdowns and the mandates, you could move somewhere like Florida and get away from that stuff. I know I sure do and I know a lot of you do as well,' Crane said in his video. 'And if you want to see that type of thing continue, then please help us support this type of legislation.'" [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), 3/29/23]
March 2023: Eli Crane Announced Co-Sponsorship Of Bill To Withdraw U.S. From WHO According to Arizona Republic, "Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., announced in a video released last week he was a co-sponsor of the WHO Withdrawal Act. The bill, introduced by fellow Rep. Andy Biggs, would compel President Joe Biden to cut ties with the World Health Organization." [Arizona Republic (Phoenix), 3/29/23]
March 2023: Eli Crane Called WHO A 'Corrupt Pawn Of Communist China' According to Arizona Republic, "Crane called the agency, which is part of the United Nations, a 'corrupt pawn of Communist China.'" [Arizona Republic (Phoenix), 3/29/23]
March 2023: Eli Crane Urged Support For Anti-WHO Legislation According to Arizona Republic, 'And if you want to see that type of thing continue, then please help us support this type of legislation.' [Arizona Republic (Phoenix), 3/29/23]
2023: Eli Crane Co-Sponsored A Bill With Andy Biggs To Compel Biden To Cut Ties With WHO According to Arizona Republic, "Biggs recently introduced a bill to compel President Joe Biden to cut ties with the World Health Organization, and Crane was a co-sponsor." [Arizona Republic, 5/4/23]
2023: Eli Crane Focused On COVID-19 Issues As Congressman According to Arizona Republic, "The three representatives have focused much of their attention on COVID-19, including calling for investigating the U.S. response to the coronavirus and Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who coordinated the country's COVID-19 efforts." [Arizona Republic (Phoenix), 3/29/23]
2023: Eli Crane Joined Calls For Investigation Of U.S. And Fauci's COVID-19 Response According to Arizona Republic, "Biggs, Crane and Gosar have called for an investigation into the U.S. response to COVID-19 and into Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who coordinated the country's COVID-19 efforts and was Biden's chief medical adviser in 2021 and 2022." [Arizona Republic, 5/4/23]
2024: Letter Writer Ruth Porter-Tilman Accused Eli Crane of Proposing Anti-Healthcare Laws Affecting Women According to a letter to the editor published in Arizona Daily Sun, "And does anyone honestly believe that Mr. Crane would expect any woman in his family to abide by the misogynist anti-healthcare laws he proposes?" [Letter to the Editor - Arizona Daily Sun, 3/3/24]