10 Famous Politicians From Arizona

10 Famous Politicians From Arizona

From sun-drenched desert landscapes and cacti to breathtaking sceneries. Complemented by a rich history and modern-day attractions such as theme parks, golf courses, and shopping centers. The Grand Canyon State is magnificent in its natural surroundings.

What’s more, part of Arizona’s historical heritage includes its political environment. This state prides itself as home to significant political figures who have affected the political space in Arizona as well as in the country.

Barry Goldwater, John McCain, and Sandra Day O’Connor are some of the headline politicians that have set a pace for the Arizona political climate. Discover the rest below.

Here are the 10 Famous Politicians From Arizona.

1. Barry Goldwater

Unknown, dedicated to Bettmann Archive, presumably U.S. Senate or photographic company working with Senate, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He began his political journey at the Phoenix City Council where he was a member from 1950 to 1952. In the early 1960s, he was involved in the championing of the American conservative ideology.

Furthermore, in the 1964 US presidential elections, he ran for office under the umbrella of the Republican Party. Goldwater is famed for long service as the US Senator for Arizona. His entry into Senate came in 1953 and he served until 1965. He returned to the Senate in 1969 and was there up to 1987.

Barry’s time in Senate saw him chair the Senate Intelligence Committee from 1981 to 1985. He also had the opportunity to head the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1985 to 1987.

Though he lost the 1964 US presidential elections to Lyndon B. Johnson, Goldwater laid a foundation for conservative revolutions. Thus such movements followed afterward such as the Reagan Revolution that happened in the 1980s. He was born on January 2, 1909, in Phoenix and died at the age of 89 years on May 29, 1998, in Paradise Valley.

Learn Great Facts About Arizona.

2. John McCain

United States Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

McCain is remembered for serving as the US Senator for Arizona from 1987 until 2018 when he died in office. While in Senate, he chaired the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. His last committee role was chairing the Senate Armed Services Committee from 2015 to 2018.

Additionally, he was part of the 98^th Congress from 1983 to 1987. Another political landmark for this Republican was running for the 2008 US presidential elections. He lost to the Democratic nominee then Barack Obama. McCain was born on August 29, 1936, in Panama Canal Zone and died aged 81 years in Arizona’s Cornville on August 25, 2018.

3. Evan Mecham

He served as the governor of Arizona from January 1987 until his impeachment in April 1988. Before his rise to power as governor, he had served in the Arizona Senate from 1961 to 1963.

Moreover, he was a renowned businessman in the automotive industry. He also doubled as a newspaper publisher. He was born in Utah on May 12, 1924, and he moved to Glendale, AZ in 1954. He died in Phoenix on February 21, 2008, at the age of 83 years.

4. Sandra Day O’Connor

Library of Congress (Transferred by Sven Manguard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

She was nominated to the office of associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States during the Ronald Reagan regime. She was at the helm of power in the country’s highest court from 1981 to 2006. Thus she made a record as the first female to hold the office.

To add on, she served as a judge in Arizona’s courts before she transitioned to the Supreme Court. She was also part of the state’s Senate from 1973 to 1975. She was born in Texas on March 26, 1930. She moved with her husband to Arizona’s Maricopa County in the late 1950s.

5. Jeff Flake

This Republican politician cum diplomat is prominent for serving in both houses of Congress. From 2001 up to 2013, he was in the US lower legislative house. In 2013 Flake joined the United States Senate and remained there up to 2019.

On top of that, he received an appointment from President Joe Biden in October 2021 to become the US ambassador to Turkey. He was confirmed to the position by the Senate and assumed office in January 2022. He was born in Snowflake on December 31, 1962.

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6. Janet Napolitano

United States Department of Homeland Security, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In her political career, she is celebrated for her role as governor of Arizona. She occupied the office in 2003 and held it up to 2009. During Barack Obama’s administration, she was named to the position of US Secretary of Homeland Security. She was the head of this docket from 2009 up to 2013.

The Democratic Party politician Napolitano has a legal academic background so she served as Attorney General of Arizona from 1999 to 2003. She also had the chance to serve as a United States Attorney of Arizona from 1993 to 1997.

Over and above that, in 2013 she became the President of the University of California and led the institution until 2020. Further, in May 2022 she joined the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. She was born in New York City on November 29, 1957, and moved to Phoenix where she practiced her legal career.

7. Raul Grijalva

US Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This Democratic politician joined Congress in 2003 and has served in the House since then. He has represented Arizona’s 3^rd and 7^th districts throughout his time in the US House of Legislature.

Moreover, he chaired the House Natural Resources Committee, from 2019 up to January 2023. He was co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2009 up to 2019. From January 2023 he is a ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. He was born in Tucson on February 19, 1948.

8. Kyrsten Sinema

Her first elected position was in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2005. She represented the 15th district until 2011. Beginning in 2011 up to 2012, Sinema was a member of Arizona’s Senate.

Furthermore, in 2013 she secured a seat in Congress. She represented Arizona’s 9th district until 2019. In January 2019 she took over office as the US Senator for Arizona. She was born in Tucson on 12 July 1976.

9. Matt Salmon

United States Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Salmon entered the political arena in 1991 through election to the Arizona Senate and served there up to 1995. Afterward, he secured a seat in Congress in 1995. He was the representative of Arizona’s 1^st district until 2001. He returned to the House in 2013 as the representative of Arizona’s 5^th district until 2017.

Additionally, he ran for Arizona’s gubernatorial seat in 2002. He lost to Janet Napolitano by a narrow margin. During the Arizona 2022 gubernatorial elections, Salmon was a contestant. Yet Katie Hobbs won the seat. He was born in Salt Lake City on January 21, 1958.

Be informed on the Weirdest Laws In Arizona.

10. Gabrielle Giffords

The retired Democratic Party politician served in the two Arizona houses of the legislature. First in the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2003. Later she joined the Arizona Senate from 2003 to 2005.

To add on, in 2007 she was elected to the US House of Representatives. Hence she represented Arizona’s 8th district up to 2012. She resigned from the role following a brain injury caused by an attempted assassination. She was born in Tucson on June 8, 1970.

These Arizona politicians are at the center of political engagements in the state and the country. They have shaped the political environment in their different capacities leaving a legacy for the present and future generations.