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Situational awareness: Today's the last recommended day for voters to return early ballots by mail for the Nov. 3 election.

Today’s newsletter is 1,048 words — a 4-minute read.

An unexpectedly competitive race in a congressional district that President Trump easily won by double digits two years ago could spell trouble as Republicans look to fend off a Democratic wave.

Why it matters: Significant spending by both parties in the 2nd Congressional District, which covers most of rural, northern Arizona and extends into northern Pinal County, suggests that even districts normally considered to be safe Republican territory could be up for grabs.

State of play: The race pits Republican incumbent Eli Crane against Democrat Jonathan Nez.

• Crane is a veteran and founder and CEO of Bottle Breacher, a company that makes bottle openers from bullets. He's a staunch Trump ally and House Freedom Caucus member who helped oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023.
• Nez is a former Navajo Nation president and council delegate. He would be the first Native American to represent Arizona in Congress if elected.
• It's a rematch of 2024, when Crane handily defeated Nez in his first reelection campaign.

The intrigue: The Cook Political Report last week shifted its assessment of CD2 from being a "likely Republican" win to "lean Republican."

Zoom in: Both sides are blanketing the airwaves with television ads in the final weeks before the election.

• Democratic outside groups have spent millions boosting Nez and attacking Crane, including House Majority PAC, House Democrats' main super PAC.
• The Trump-linked No Going Back PAC has reported spending more than $3 million in the district, and other Republican groups are aiding Crane as well.
• What little polling has been released publicly suggests a tight race.

Yes, but: As national Democrats shift money around to prioritize the most winnable races, CD2 is among the districts where House Majority PAC has scaled back its spending recently.

• House Majority PAC is still on pace to spend around $2 million in the race through Election Day, spokesperson CJ Warnke tells Axios.

What they're saying

Eating at burger spot La Hamburguesa presents two logistical challenges: finding the restaurant, whose building still features the previous tenant's sign, and finding a couch to lie down on afterward.

Dig in: We grabbed lunch there last week, and after a hefty meal of burgers and fries, we just woke up a few minutes ago.

The latest: La Hamburguesa began as a food truck more than two years ago but recently opened a brick-and-mortar location at 2333 N. Seventh St., north of downtown.

• Chef Hernan-Zeal Rivera told Phoenix New Times that he was offered the chance to take over the lease of Tatemados Tacos al Carbon, whose sign is still up.
• There are only four burgers on the menu for now.

What to try: Our editorial team each tried something different.

• I got the bacon avocado burger in the top photo — it was really tasty even though he's not an avocado person.
• Jeremy ordered the "Viva Mexico," with pepper jack, Anaheim chili, chiltepin and jalapeños.
• Our editor, Jodie, got the "classic" burger, which she says was flavorful but messy.

What to skip: The hand-cut beef tallow fries are an extra $5. They were fine but hardly the star of the meal.

Pro tip: Wash it all down with a glass bottle of Coca-Cola — or a can of Coke Zero, if you've decided to fire one tiny little arrow at the target of healthy eating.

• And maybe block out the next few hours for a restorative nap.

Take a bite

🎿 Arizona Snowbowl got six inches of snow over the weekend, a bounty that, should it continue, could possibly move up its planned Nov. 20 opening date. (Arizona's Family)

🍣 Roka Akor, the high-end Japanese restaurant that's had a Scottsdale location for years, is opening another spot in Gilbert. (Phoenix Business Journal)

🔌 SRP and APS are struggling to keep up with power generation demands driven by the data center boom. (KJZZ)

🏀 A group that includes former Suns and Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo is one of two still in the running to be awarded an expansion NBA franchise in Las Vegas. (Sports Business Journal)

Three candidates are vying for two City Council seats in the Nov. 3 election.

Why it matters: The election will help determine the city's approach to water security, development and neighborhood concerns about short-term rentals.

State of play: Incumbent Councilmember Barry Graham and former state lawmaker Michelle Ugenti-Rita are running on a joint conservative platform.

• Raoul Zubia is asking supporters to vote only for him.

How it works: Voters may select up to two, and the two with the most votes will win.

The candidates disagree on how Scottsdale should pursue turning wastewater into drinking water.

• Zubia supports expanding water purification, Ugenti-Rita opposes adding purified recycled water directly to the drinking supply and Graham questions the cost of doing so.

The bigger clash is over Taser-manufacturer Axon's proposals for a new headquarters and a 1,900 apartments.

• Graham and Ugenti-Rita have positioned themselves against the plan while Zubia has said Scottsdale could welcome Axon's jobs while demanding less density.

Tell your neighbor

Congratulations to Sal O., the first reader to give us the correct location for Monday's "Where in the Valley?" photo.

State of play: The decorative fence is at 5th Avenue and Jackson Street in downtown Phoenix, outside the Icehouse.

• The Icehouse is an events and arts venue with a long and colorful history.

Flashback: It was built in 1910 for Constable Ice Storage and used — as the name suggests — to store massive blocks of ice, per Downtown Phoenix Journal.

Explore Icehouse history

🎧 Jeremy went to only one rave in his life — he was grudgingly convinced to go by a friend in high school — and it was at the Icehouse.

📺 Zach finished the fourth season of "The Diplomat" and is ticked off that he has to wait for season five.

This newsletter was edited by Jodie Lau.