The GOP has a deep bench in Arizona.
2nd District: Martha McSally
Primary interests: Military, homeland security.
Background:
- McSally is from Rhode Island, won an appointment to the Air Force Academy, was the first woman to fly in combat and retired as a colonel after 22 years. She sued Rumsfeld to end the practice of servicewomen being forced to wear Muslim attire in the Middle East, and her suit changed DOD policy due to congressional action.
- An active legislator, her bills are narrowly drawn to improve homeland security or help veterans.
- At age 50 she is in her 2nd term.
- She serves on the Armed Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee where she chairs the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee.
4th District: Paul Gosar
Primary interests: Gun rights, borders and immigration; against abortion, EPA, Indian rights, global warming issues.
Background:
- A dentist who entered politics, Gosar came up by way of the Tea Party.
- His primary interests are social conservatism and property rights.
- At age 58 he is in his 4th term.
- He serves on the Natural Resources Committee, and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee where he vice-chairs the Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and National Archives Subcommittee.
5th District: Andy Biggs
Primary interests: Borders and immigration, social conservatism, education, economy, energy, veterans.
Background:
- Biggs is an attorney who served in the Arizona legislature (8 years in the House, 4 in the Senate).
- At age 58 he is a freshman.
6th District: Dave Schweikert
Primary interests: Borders and immigration, defense, gun rights, energy, balanced budget; against abortion, EPA and global warming issues.
Background:
- Schweikert served 4 years in the Arizona House, 12 years on the State Board of Equalization, and 3 years as Maricopa County Treasurer.
- He ran unsuccessfully for the US House 3 times before finally winning.
- At age 55 he is in his 3rd term.
- He was one of 3 congressmen purged by Boehner for not being team players.
- He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.
8th District: Trent Franks
Primary interests: Homeland security, taxes, gun rights; against abortion.
Background:
- Franks came out of the oil industry where he was a small businessman in oil drilling.
- His career in state government under Gov. Evan Mecham was tied to abortion and evangelical family issues, and he resigned when Mecham was impeached and removed from office.
- He sponsored a constitutional amendment that would have banned abortion in Arizona, but it only got 35% of the vote. He was an advisor to Pat Buchanan.
- He returned to the oil business before winning a seat in the House.
- At age 60 he is in his 8th term.
- He serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee.