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Matt Salmon

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Matt Salmon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 5th district
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byJeff Flake (Redistricting)
Succeeded byAndy Biggs
Chair of the Arizona Republican Party
In office
2005–2007
Preceded byBob Fannin
Succeeded byRandy Pullen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded bySam Coppersmith
Succeeded byJeff Flake
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 14, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byJerry Gillespie
Succeeded byStan Barnes
Personal details
Born
Matthew James Salmon

(1958-01-21) January 21, 1958 (age 66)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNancy Salmon
Children4
EducationArizona State University (BA)
Brigham Young University (MPA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website

Matthew James Salmon (born January 21, 1958) is an American Republican politician, who retired from office after serving as representative for Arizona's 5th congressional district. The district is based in Mesa and includes most of the East Valley. He previously represented the district, then numbered as the 1st District, from 1995 to 2001. In 2002, he lost by less than 1% to Janet Napolitano in a highly competitive governor's race. He regained his old congressional seat in the 2012 election. Salmon and his wife Nancy have been married for 34 years. They have four children and seven grandchildren.[1]

On February 25, 2016, Salmon announced his retirement from politics.[2] In June 2016, Arizona State University announced that Salmon would join his undergraduate alma mater as Vice President for Government Affairs in the Office of Government & Community Engagement. In this position, Salmon oversees the University’s local, state and federal relations teams.[3] He also holds a faculty appointment as a Professor of Practice in Public Affairs in the ASU College of Public Service & Community Solutions.[4]

In April 2020, Salmon was named Chairman of the American Kratom Association. The nonprofit organization "advocates to protect the freedom of consumers to safely consume natural kratom as a part of their personal health and well-being regimen."[5]

Early life, education, and business career

Salmon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and lived in Taiwan from 1977–1979 as a missionary.[6]

Arizona Senate (1991–1995)

Elections

In 1990, he ran for the Arizona Senate in the 21st Senate District based in Mesa, Arizona. In the Republican primary, he defeated incumbent State Senator Jerry Gillespie, who was controversial due to his support of impeached Governor Evan Mecham and his vote against the Martin Luther King holiday.[7] In the general election, he defeated Democrat Bill Hegarty 60%–40%.[8] In 1992, he won re-election to a second term unopposed.[9]

Tenure

Previous Salmon congressional photograph

In 1992, he was elected to a new leadership position called assistant majority leader.[10] He served that position until 1995.

In 1993, he sponsored legislation that created new drug test programs for employers.[11] That year, he also called for an independent study of the Department of Economic Services' child welfare agency.[12]

Committee assignments

  • Senate Appropriations Committee[13]
  • Senate Indian Gambling Committee (Co-Chairman)[14]
  • Senate Rules Committee (Chairman)[15]

U.S. House of Representatives (1995–2001)

Elections

1994

Incumbent U.S. Congressman Sam Coppersmith, a Democrat, decided to retire after one term in what was then the 1st District in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Salmon won the Republican primary with a plurality of 39% in a five-candidate field.[16] During his first congressional campaign, term limits were a high-profile issue. Salmon was one of many candidates nationwide who pledged to serve only three terms in Congress. In the general election, he defeated Democratic State Senator Chuck Blanchard, 56%–39%.[17]

1996

He won re-election to a second term with 60% of the vote.[18]

1998

He won re-election to a third term with 65% of the vote.[19]

2000

He honored his campaign pledge (one of many who pledged to do so in the class of `94) and did not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2000.[20] He was then succeeded by Jeff Flake.

Tenure

He signed the Contract with America.[21]

In 1999, he unsuccessfully advocated carving Ronald Reagan's face into Mount Rushmore, claiming that the former President had won the Cold War.[22] An idea that garnered support from Reps. Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-Md.) and John R. Kasich (R-Ohio).[23] Salmon was instrumental in obtaining the January 29, 2000 release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi from detention in China on spying charges.[24]

Accomplishments

Committee assignments

Inter-congressional years (2001–2011)

2002 gubernatorial election

Main article: 2002 Arizona gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull was ineligible for re-election in 2002. In the Republican primary, Salmon defeated Arizona Secretary of State Betsy Bayless and Arizona Treasurer Carol Springer 56%–30%–14%. He won every county in the state.[28] In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee and Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano, Libertarian nominee Barry Hess, and former Arizona Secretary of State Richard D. Mahoney (who ran as an independent, but was previously a Democrat). Napolitano defeated Salmon 46.19%–45.22%, a difference of just 11,819 votes.[29]

Political activism

Salmon speaking at FreePac, hosted by FreedomWorks, in Phoenix, Arizona

After that race, he served as a lobbyist and chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. In 2007, he served as campaign manager to businessman Scott Smith's successful campaign for Mayor of Mesa.[30] In 2008, he became President of the Competitive Telecommunications Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association.[31]

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2017)

Second congressional stint

Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 5
Matt Salmon speaking at "Politics on the Rocks" event in Scottsdale, AZ in 2012
Matt Salmon speaking at a town hall hosted by the American Academy for Constitutional Education in Mesa, Arizona in 2014

In April 2011, Salmon announced he would seek his old congressional seat, which was now numbered as the 5th District. His conception of term limits had evolved: in 2011 he stated that they were a flawed concept unless they were applied across the board.[32] His successor in Congress, Jeff Flake, was giving up the seat to run for the United States Senate.[33] He was endorsed by the Club for Growth,[34] Governor Jan Brewer,[35] Senator John Thune,[36] Congressman David Schweikert,[37] Congressman Trent Franks,[38] and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.[39][40] In the August 28 Republican primary, he defeated former state house speaker Kirk Adams 52%–48%.[41][42] In the general election, Salmon defeated Democrat Spencer Morgan 65%–35%.[43] However, the 5th is as heavily Republican as its predecessor, and Salmon had effectively assured his return to Congress with his primary victory.

Salmon was reelected almost as easily in 2014. However, he announced on February 25, 2016 that he is retiring for good.[2]

Committee assignments

Tenure

In March 2013, he endorsed the idea of bringing back the Hastert Rule, which is that in order to bring a bill to the floor it must have a majority of the majority party's support.[48] He also proposed an amendment to the United States Constitution limiting House members to three terms in office and Senators to two.[49]

Abortion

Salmon is pro-life and has opposed federal funding of abortions as well as family-planning assistance that includes abortions.[50][51]

Gay rights

Salmon voted to ban gay couples adopting children and opposes gay marriage.[50]

In April 2013, Salmon announced that he would continue to oppose same-sex marriage even though his son is openly gay.[52] Salmon's stances have been unmoved despite his acceptance of his son's homosexuality.[53] Salmon's son led the Arizona Log Cabin Republicans; he left the group to focus on medical school.[52]

Civil Rights
Salmon speaking for Young Americans for Liberty chapter in Glendale, Arizona in 2014

Salmon is strictly opposed to the surveillance of personal emails and phone-calls currently allowed and has called for legislation to reduce it.[54] He introduced a bill that would better protect privacy rights by limiting the ability of the government to perform unwarranted searches.[55]

Environment

Salmon has been a moderate supporter of environmental protection. He voted to enforce environmental standards on new pipelines, prohibit the EPA from being barred from investigations, reduce nuclear waste, and provide larger forest conservation.[50][56]

Budget
Salmon speaking at the 2014 Western Conservative Conference

Salmon is a strong fiscal conservative and has often caused rifts and defections in his own party to oppose increasing the deficit.[57] He has strictly opposed raising the debt limit and any new spending without matching cuts.[58] He believes government agencies and institutions should undergo reform, not expansion, to meet their needs.[59]

Taxes

Matt Salmon signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, stating he would never vote for legislation to increase taxes on Americans.[60] He opposes new government spending unless it has a plan to initiate some spending cut that will offset the loss.[58] He has voted to cut various taxes, such as the estate and marriage taxes.[61]

Following the recent IRS scandal and the wake of investigation, Salmon has called upon Attorney General Eric Holder to hold independent investigation on the IRS for its alleged targeting of its political opponents due allow for an unbiased non-government council to look into the matter.[54]

He is a cosponsor to a bill that would prevent politically-based bias causing any discrimination in tax treatment.[54]

In 2011 Salmon signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.[62]

Electoral history

Arizona Senate 21st District Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 24,191 59.82
Democratic Bill Hegarty 16,227 40.12
Write-in Tom Wilkinson 24 0.06
Arizona Senate 21st District Election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 34,417 100.00
Arizona 1st Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 19,862 38.97
Republican Susan Bitter Smith 11,359 22.29
Republican Linda Rawles 9,596 18.83
Republican Bev Hermon 8,030 15.76
Republican Bert Tollefson 2,119 4.16
Arizona 1st Congressional District Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 101,350 56.04
Democratic Chuck Blanchard 70,627 39.05
Libertarian Bob Howarth 8,890 4.92
Arizona 1st Congressional District Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 135,634 60.18
Democratic John Cox 89,738 39.82
Arizona 1st Congressional District Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 98,840 64.62
Democratic David Mendoza 54,108 35.38
Arizona Governor Republican Primary Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 174,055 55.99
Republican Betsey Bayless 92,473 29.75
Republican Carol Springer 44,333 14.26
Republican/Write-in Steve Moore 16 0.01
Republican/Write-in Diana Kennedy 8 0.00
Arizona Governor Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janet Napolitano 566,284 46.19
Republican Matt Salmon 554,465 45.22
Independent Richard Mahoney 84,947 6.93
Libertarian Barry Hess 20,356 1.66
Write-in Carlton Rahmani 29 0.00
Write-in Tracey Sturgess 15 0.00
Write-in Naida Axford 5 0.00
Write-in "Rayj" Raymond Caplette 5 0.00
Write-in D'Herrera Tapia 4 0.00
Write-in "Denny" Talbow 1 0.00
Arizona's 5th Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 41,078 51.85
Republican Kirk Adams 38,152 48.15
Arizona's 5th Congressional District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 183,470 67.19
Democratic Spencer Morgan 89,589 32.81
Arizona's 5th Congressional District Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 124,867 69.58
Democratic James Woods 54,596 30.42

References

  1. ^ "Matt Salmon – Family". Salmon.house.gov. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Sherman, Jake (February 25, 2016). "Rep. Salmon announces retirement". Politico. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon to join ASU as vice president for government affairs". Arizona State University. June 3, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  4. ^ https://isearch.asu.edu/profile/3122238
  5. ^ https://www.americankratom.org/mediak/news/aka-announcement-on-leadership-change.html
  6. ^ "New House members of 113th Congress: Q-R-S – Politico Staff". Politico.Com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "Candidate – Jerry Gillespie". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  8. ^ "AZ State Senate 21 Race – Nov 06, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  9. ^ "AZ State Senate 21 Race – Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  10. ^ "Kingman Daily Miner - Google News Archive Search". wayback.archive-it.org. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  11. ^ "Workers win as two bills die in House". Arizona Daily Star. April 16, 1993.
  12. ^ "2 legislators call for greater scrutiny of child welfare agency's operations". Arizona Daily Star. November 19, 1993.
  13. ^ "Lawmakers from Pima stir anger; Push for tax equity irks Maricopa legislators". Arizona Daily Star. November 14, 1993.
  14. ^ "Symington calls special session on Indian gaming to begin June 7". Arizona Daily Star. May 27, 1993.
  15. ^ "Kingman Daily Miner - Google News Archive Search". wayback.archive-it.org. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ "AZ District 1 – R Primary Race – Sep 13, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  17. ^ "AZ District 1 Race". Our Campaigns. November 8, 1994. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  18. ^ "AZ District 1 Race". Our Campaigns. November 5, 1996. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "AZ District 1 Race". Our Campaigns. November 3, 1998. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  20. ^ Hansen, Ronald J. "Salmon leaves Congress for a second time". azcentral. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  21. ^ [1] Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "Reagan for Rushmore". BBC News. March 1, 1999.
  23. ^ Therrien, Khiota (February 15, 1999). "WILL REAGAN BE CHISELED OUT?". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  24. ^ "ASIA-PACIFIC | Academic freed by China flies home". News.bbc.co.uk. January 29, 2000. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  25. ^ [Congressional Directory for the 104th Congress (1995-1996), January 4, 1995]
  26. ^ Congressional Directory for the 105th Congress (1997-1998), June 1997
  27. ^ Congressional Directory for the 106th Congress (1999-2000), June 1999
  28. ^ "AZ Governor – R Primary Race – Sep 10, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  29. ^ "AZ Governor Race – Nov 05, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  30. ^ Nelson, Gary (June 1, 2006). "Ex-Builder Seeks Mesa Mayoral Seat". The Arizona Republic. Newsbank. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  31. ^ Timberlake Membership Software, 703-591-4232, www.timberlakepublishing.com (December 4, 2007). "Comptel". Comptel. Retrieved September 14, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "They Took the Pledge". Weeklystandard.com. February 9, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  33. ^ Walsh, Jim (April 19, 2011). "Matt Salmon seeks to replace Jeff Flake in U.S. House". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  34. ^ "Matt Salmon (AZ-05)". Clubforgrowth.org. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  35. ^ Welch, Dennis (July 10, 2012). "Gov. Brewer makes first congressional endorsement, backs Salmon | azfamily.com Phoenix". Azfamily.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  36. ^ Catanese, David (August 2, 2011). "Thune endorses Matt Salmon – David Catanese". Politico.Com. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  37. ^ "Schweikert endorses Salmon". Politico.Com. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  38. ^ Catanese, David (April 28, 2011). "Kyl for Adams, Franks for Salmon – David Catanese". Politico.Com. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  39. ^ "Breaking: Governor Jeb Bush Endorses Matt Salmon". Salmonforcongress.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  40. ^ Nowicki, Dan (August 18, 2012). "Gingrich endorses Adams over his old House rival Salmon". Azcentral.com. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  41. ^ "AZ District 05 – R Primary Race – Aug 28, 2012". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  42. ^ "Primary Election". September 18, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  43. ^ "AZ – District 05 Race – Nov 06, 2012". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  44. ^ Chairman Royce Announces Subcommittee Chairs for House Foreign Affairs Committee, 2013-1-8
  45. ^ Some Republicans Applaud Trump Call With Taiwan, 2016-12-3
  46. ^ Congressional Directory for the 113th Congress (2013-2014), February 2014
  47. ^ Congressional Directory for the 114th Congress (2015-2016), February 2016
  48. ^ "Arizona Rep. Matt Salmon: Bring back 'Hastert rule'". Washingtontimes.com. March 12, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  49. ^ Matt Salmon (April 23, 2013). "Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve. (2013; 113th Congress H.J.Res. 41)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  50. ^ a b c "Matt Salmon (Republican, district 5)". On the Issues.
  51. ^ "Representative Matthew 'Matt' Salmon's Voting Records: Abortion". Project Vote Smart.
  52. ^ a b Weiner, Rachel (April 1, 2013). "Rep. Matt Salmon: Gay son hasn't changed my views on gay marriage". The Washington Post.
  53. ^ Wong, Curtis M. (April 9, 2013). "Matt Salmon's gay son talks Congressman father's same-sex marriage opposition, reparative therapy". HuffPost – Gay Voices. Huffington Post. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  54. ^ a b c "Rep. Salmon Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate IRS Targeting of Conservative Groups". Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona. May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  55. ^ "Salmon Introduces Bill to Protect Emails, Ensure Privacy from Government Entities". Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013.
  56. ^ "Representative Matthew 'Matt' Salmon's Voting Records Environment". Project Vote Smart.
  57. ^ Trujillo, Mario (March 18, 2013). "Rep. Matt Salmon swims against currents of the Republican establishment". The Hill.
  58. ^ a b "Rep. Salmon's Vote on Raising the Debt Ceiling". Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona. January 23, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013.
  59. ^ "REP. SALMON: "Medicaid needs reform, not expansion"". Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona. January 23, 2013. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
  60. ^ "Matt Salmon Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge". Salmon For Congress. June 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
  61. ^ "Representative Matthew 'Matt' Salmon's Voting Records: Budget, Spending and Taxes". Project Vote Smart.
  62. ^ "Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Matt Salmon" (PDF). Americansforprosperity.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matt Salmon.
Arizona Senate
Preceded by Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 21st district
1991–1995 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st congressional district
1995–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 5th congressional district
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Arizona
2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Bob Fannin
 Chair of the Arizona Republican Party
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
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