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Bob Karp

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Bob Karp
Image of Bob Karp
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

UCLA, 1971

Personal
Birthplace
Los Angeles, Calif.
Profession
Retired
Contact

Bob Karp (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 19. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Karp completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bob Karp was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from UCLA in 1971.[1][2]

Elections

2024

See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Arizona State Senate District 19

Incumbent David Gowan defeated Bob Karp in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 19 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Gowan
David Gowan (R)
 
62.6
 
71,192
Image of Bob Karp
Bob Karp (D) Candidate Connection
 
37.4
 
42,555

Total votes: 113,747
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 19

Bob Karp advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 19 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bob Karp
Bob Karp Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
16,873

Total votes: 16,873
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 19

Incumbent David Gowan advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 19 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Gowan
David Gowan
 
100.0
 
30,350

Total votes: 30,350
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Karp received the following endorsements.

2020

See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Arizona State Senate District 14

Incumbent David Gowan defeated Bob Karp in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 14 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Gowan
David Gowan (R)
 
63.4
 
67,229
Image of Bob Karp
Bob Karp (D) Candidate Connection
 
36.6
 
38,829

Total votes: 106,058
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 14

Bob Karp advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 14 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bob Karp
Bob Karp Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
16,899

Total votes: 16,899
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 14

Incumbent David Gowan advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 14 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Gowan
David Gowan
 
100.0
 
28,132

Total votes: 28,132
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 14 (2 seats)

Gail Griffin and incumbent Becky Nutt defeated Shelley Renne-Leon and Bob Karp in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 14 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gail Griffin
Gail Griffin (R)
 
32.7
 
46,797
Image of Becky Nutt
Becky Nutt (R)
 
32.2
 
46,155
Shelley Renne-Leon (D)
 
17.9
 
25,651
Image of Bob Karp
Bob Karp (D) Candidate Connection
 
17.1
 
24,539

Total votes: 143,142
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 14 (2 seats)

Shelley Renne-Leon and Bob Karp advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 14 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Shelley Renne-Leon
 
52.7
 
11,149
Image of Bob Karp
Bob Karp Candidate Connection
 
47.3
 
9,989

Total votes: 21,138
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 14 (2 seats)

Gail Griffin and incumbent Becky Nutt advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 14 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Gail Griffin
Gail Griffin
 
52.7
 
21,414
Image of Becky Nutt
Becky Nutt
 
47.3
 
19,253

Total votes: 40,667
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Bob Karp completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Karp's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Cochise County since 2005, Sierra Vista, AZ since 2011; Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, UCLA, 1971; Owner, Protair Corporation, Los Angeles CA, aerospace machine shop, 16 years 1971-1986 Developer/owner, WinResources Computing, Carlsbad CA, software development company; 50+ employees; $2.5 million annual payroll 1987-2001; Owner, Karp Properties LLC real estate brokerage, Sierra Vista, AZ 2011-Current; Member Board of Directors , Southeast Arizona Association of REALTORS 2013-2015 2015 President, Southeast Arizona Association of REALTORS and Southeast Arizona Multiple Listing Service, Sierra Vista AZ Member, City of Sierra Vista Planning & Zoning Commission 2018 - 2019 In 2018 in ran for the AZ State House in old LD14. In 2024 in ran for the AZ State Senate in old LD14.
  • Arizona public schools must be fully funded. To do that the ESA Voucher program must be scrapped and redesigned to its original purpose - helping special needs students who cannot get all the services they need from their public school district.
  • The Arizona legislature must codify unrestricted access to abortion, IVF and contraception services.
  • In order to balance the state budget the legislature needs to stop giving tax breaks to special interests, the wealthy and large corporations.
Tax policy, water conservation, infrastructure, voting rights and election processes.
Yes, this is the obvious answer, but it is the truth.

Even though my father has been dead for 20+ years I still respect him and try to follow his example. He was incredibly honest in all aspects of his life. Most significantly as a business owner he always made decisions based on what was best for his employees first and then the business second. My entire professional life has been modeled on that simple rule.
Honesty and integrity; intellect; civility; ability to be open to ideas not your own; a work ethic; respectfulness
Intelligence, ability to listen, doing the work to understand the issues by getting the most information available, staying on subject when asked a question, answering honestly regardless of the consequences.
Work hard every day. Look at the big picture, not just your own self-interest. Ask tough questions. Do not accept the conventional wisdom. Listen to your constituents respectfully. Work with everybody, even those members of the other party. Listen more than speak. To represent all interests within my district. To lead rather than follow. To believe in a set of values and publicly stand for them.
I don't believe in legacies - it is presumptuous to elevate oneself to that level.
I worked wiring electrical harnesses for coin-operated shoe shine machines in my father's machine shop. I worked there in the summer of my senior year in high school. This was way too long!
Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout which introduced me to the wonderous world of Nero Wolfe
The governor runs the executive branch and should be given the latitude to make executive decisions without the interference of the legislature.

However, the legislature has an obligation for oversight of the administration and its functions. The governor needs to reach out and solicit advice and cooperation from both the majority and minority parties in the state legislature, particularly as it relates to the budget. A good working relationship between the two branches of government creates results that can be supported by more people from the state. I

do not believe the legislature should interfere with the administrative branch of government by refusing to confirm appointments or threatening lawsuits of duly elected statewide office holders.
Getting the budget under control by reigning in the ESA Voucher program that is decimating public school funding and the state budget. Funding public schools at a level that makes Arizona competitive with other states nationally.

Passing legislation that protects groundwater resources from over pumping by large-scale industrial agriculture interests in rural areas. Making sure that our students have the best possible curriculum and resources rather than arguing about allowing more religion in the classroom.

Reforming the budget process and stopping more tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and special interests which creates a climate of disinvestment in infrastructure that allows our state to fall further behind.

Codifying through legislation women’s healthcare freedom to protect access to abortion, IVF and contraception services.

Stopping "culture war" performative politics that only divides us.
Not necessarily. It is important to have leaders that bring new ideas and are willing to work with all elected officials.
It helps to be able to understand your colleagues are just like you, citizen legislators. I would hope you could build common ground not just with those that agree with you on most issues, but those that have legitimate disagreements.

However, there is a line that is too far for me. I will not work with election deniers. President Joe Biden won the 2020 election fairly. Katie Hobbs won the 2022 election for governor. If you don't believe that I can't have a serious conversation with you about policy.
I think I'm my own person. However, I want to mention Pat Fleming who was elected in 2010 and served honorably for on session. She represented Cochise county as well as other parts of the state.
This is to my recollection. Some of the details might be slightly different:

I was at an event in the Willcox area and heard from a constituent in the northern part of Cochise county right on the border of Graham county. She told me about ground subsidence on her property that has made her property unsellable. She cannot afford to move and is about to have her well go dry. This is not someone down in the Sunsites/Pearce area of the Willcox basin, next to the huge dairies. But the water crisis is affecting small property owners who suffer without getting any notice or help from local elect officeholders.
Emergencies require a decisive voice. Involve a state legislature in this and you immediately politicize it. We elected a governor to run the administration of the state. Let the governor do her job. However, that doesn’t mean that the legislature shouldn’t weigh in with hearings. But the governor should have the authority to make decisions in the event of a declared emergency.

I had the same answer when Governor Ducey was in charge back during the 2020 pandemic. This has nothing to do with the party of the governor.
To codify access to abortion, IVF and contraception services. Right after that, the repeal of the ESA Vouchers with a framework for returning the program to its original intent to help special needs students not getting resources from the local public school.
Judiciary, Commerce, Finance, Transportation & Public Safety, Water & Agriculture
I'm assuming the former relates to the later. The budget process needs to be reformed so that everyone knows how budget decisions are made. The state administration departments need robust oversight through public hearings that results in accountability. I want to extend that to the way the legislature operates. The entire Maricopa ballot 2020 election "audit" funding was a disgrace because we never knew exactly what the state legislature authorized or spent on it.
Every change has made it more difficult to get an initiative on the ballot. I will not support the idea that you have to get a minimum number of signatures from multiple counties. I also am skeptical of how ballot initiative are challenged after they qualify for the ballot. Too many times they are thrown off the ballot of disqualified even after the voters have voted.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Candidate Connection

Bob Karp completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Karp's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Cochise County since 2005, Sierra Vista, AZ since 2011;

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, UCLA, 1971;

Owner, Protair Corporation, Los Angeles CA, aerospace machine shop, 16 years 1971-1986 Developer/owner, WinResources Computing, Carlsbad CA, software development company; 50+ employees; $2.5 million annual payroll 1987-2001; Owner, Karp Properties LLC real estate brokerage, Sierra Vista, AZ 2011-Current;

Member Board of Directors , Southeast Arizona Association of REALTORS 2013-2015 2015 President, Southeast Arizona Association of REALTORS and Southeast Arizona Multiple Listing Service, Sierra Vista AZ Member, City of Sierra Vista Planning & Zoning Commission 2018 - 2019

  • I am running for Arizona State Representative because I believe that democracy is best served by a vigorous discussion of the issues facing our state government. For too long opposing viewpoints are routinely ignored by our state elected officials. A strong multi-party system helps ensure that those in power are held accountable by the voters.
  • As a business owner with a background in manufacturing, technology, and now real estate, I bring a real-world perspective to the decisions needed to create sustained economic growth with good paying jobs in rural southeastern Arizona.
  • The Republicans have controlled the Arizona legislature for 50 plus years. The results are under investment in education, infrastructure and healthcare.. It is time for new leadership.
Changing tax policy

Reform of the budget process

Creating economic growth in rural Arizona
Even though my father has been dead for 20 years I still respect him and try to follow his example. He was incredibly honest in all aspects of his life. Most significantly as a business owner he always made decisions based on what was best for his employees first and then the business second. My entire professional life has been modeled on that simple rule.
Honesty and integrity; intellect; civility; ability to be open to ideas not your own; a work ethic; respectfulness
Intelligence, ability to listen, doing the work to understand the issues by getting the most information available, staying on subject when asked a question, answering honestly regardless of the consequences.
Work hard every day. Look at the big picture, not just your own self-interest. Ask tough questions. Do not accept the conventional wisdom. Listen to your constituents respectfully. Work with everybody, even those members of the other party. Listen more than speak. To represent all interests within my district. To lead rather than follow. To believe in a set of values and publicly stand for them.
I don't believe in legacies - it is presumptuous to elevate oneself to that level.
I worked wiring electrical harnesses for coin-operated shoe shine machines in my father's machine shop. I worked there in the summer of my senior year in high school.[
Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout which introduced me to the wonderous world of Nero Wolfe
Patrick James from the Mentalist. Funny, clever, smart with a bit of snark. He gets to solve crimes without ever having to get physical.
There is no significant difference between the Arizona state Senate and House other than numbers. Arizona state legislators represent 30 districts, one senator for each and 2 representatives. More importantly all serve for just two years. So Structurally and politically there is little difference between the two.
Not necessarily. More importantly is to have leaders that bring new ideas and are willing to work with all elected officials.
This is how I answered the question in 2018:
    Creating an education master plan for Arizona that focuses on higher education
Reform of the budget process
Creating economic growth in rural Arizona

Because of the pandemic the most important issue is the financial stability of the state and meeting the challenge of reduced state revenues. We must shore up the state healthcare system, unemployment insurance funding, while minimizing disruption to state and local government services by insuring a high level of employment.

Prior to the last few months, I believed that the biggest three issues were water rights, under investment in public education and under investment in infrastructure particularly as it relates to the rural areas of the state.
The governor runs the executive branch and should be given the latitude to make executive decisions without the interference of the legislature. However, the legislature has an obligation for oversight of the administration and its functions. The governor needs to reach out and solicit advice and cooperation from both the majority and minority parties in the state legislature, particularly as it relates to the budget.

A good working relationship between the two branches of government creates results that can be supported by more of people of the state.
Yes, there should be respectful working relationships with other legislators. This is even more critical in Arizona as you have the possibility of elected officials of different parties representing the same district. It is acceptable to disagree about policy, but we should strive to be respectful, and even get to know each other on a personal level.
Commerce, Finance, Transportation & Public Safety, Water & Agriculture
I don't think I want to "model" myself after any particular state legislator, I want to find my own way. However, State Senator Andrea Dalessandro is someone I respect for her work ethic, passionate support of issues in which she believes, and service to her constituents.
I remember two moments that gave me a perspective that I did not have. A state CPS employee came up to me and asked me to please advocate for fairer pay schedules for people in state government. She has been working in the department for 10 plus years and said she has never gotten a raise more than the cost of living and is barely making over what will be the $15 and hour minimum wage in 2021. She doesn't understand how someone working at a fast food restaurant could make more than she does after her years of service to the state.

The other is a teacher who showed me a U.S. government textbook that was in terrible condition and was at least 10 years old. He said this is what his students share in class because there are not enough copies for each student to take home. That clearly puts public education funding issues right into the classroom.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Candidate Connection

Bob Karp participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on August 15, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Bob Karp's responses follow below.[3]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Creating a dedicated, stable and long-term source of funding for education

Investing in infrastructure, particularly in rural areas of the state
Stopping tax breaks for special interests[4][5]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

Creating an education master plan for Arizona that focuses on higher education

Reform of the budget process
Creating economic growth in rural ArizonaCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Bob Karp answered the following:

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, civility, integrity and intellect[5]
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To listen to everyone. To represent all interests within my district. To lead rather than follow. To believe in a set of values and publicly stand for them.[5]
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I worked wiring electrical harnesses for coin-operated shoe shine machines in my father's machine shop. I worked there in the summer of my senior year in high school.[5]
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes, but not necessary. More importantly is new leaders that bring new ideas and are willing to work with all elected officials.[5]
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Water rights and lack of water, public school education, lack of common goals by political parties[5]
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Arizona has a non-partisan redistricting commission which I support.[5]
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Appropriations Subcommittee Public Safety, Infrastructure, Resources

Commerce
Ways & Means[5]


Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Bob Karp campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Arizona State Senate District 19Lost general$56,726 $56,535
2020Arizona State Senate District 14Lost general$48,005 N/A**
2018Arizona House of Representatives District 14Lost general$4,701 N/A**
Grand total$109,432 $56,535
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 18, 2020
  2. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2024
  3. Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
  4. Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Bob Karp's responses," August 15, 2018
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.


Current members of the Arizona State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Warren Petersen
Majority Leader:Janae Shamp
Minority Leader:Priya Sundareshan
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