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Bradley Hughes
Bradley Hughes (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent District 21. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Hughes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Bradley Hughes earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Louisville in 2006 and an MD from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2010. His professional experience includes working as a primary care physician.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 21 (2 seats)
Incumbent Kevin Payne and incumbent Tony Rivero defeated Gilbert Romero and Bradley Hughes in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 21 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin Payne (R) | 28.7 | 41,236 |
| ✔ |  | Tony Rivero (R) | 27.3 | 39,275 |
 | Gilbert Romero (D) | 22.1 | 31,756 | |
 | Bradley Hughes (D)  | 21.8 | 31,348 | |
| Total votes: 143,615 | |||
| = 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 21 (2 seats)
Gilbert Romero and Bradley Hughes advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 21 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gilbert Romero | 52.3 | 11,140 |
| ✔ | | Bradley Hughes | 47.7 | 10,161 |
| Total votes: 21,301 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 21 (2 seats)
Incumbent Kevin Payne and incumbent Tony Rivero advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 21 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Payne | 59.0 | 18,543 |
| ✔ | | Tony Rivero | 41.0 | 12,870 |
| Total votes: 31,413 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bradley Hughes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hughes' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Lowering Healthcare costs Fully funding public education Making our tax code more fair for middle/low income Arizonans
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Healthcare: Because I am a physician and see first hand the effects on those who can't afford coverage or do not have enough coverage. Skipping meds to make ends meet, going into debt because of an illness, or being denied a medication just because your insurer has a deal with another drug company. We need a more comprehensive and long-term approach to healthcare instead of more band-aids and short term thinking. Public education: Because I have a son in public school. His future, and the future of all other AZ students, depends on educators having the resources to provide a quality education. Yes, money alone does not solve problems, but you must have adequate resources as the starting point if you want to find long-term solutions for all students in Arizona.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
One current member of the state legislature that I have a great deal of respect for is Dr. Randall Friese. I have tuned into many of the most important votes the last few years and when he speaks it is clear he has truly tried to understand the issue and make the right choice. He does not repeat empty talking points or try to score cheap political points. That is the kind of legislator that I hope to be once elected. Thoughtful, honest, and transparent.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
There is not a single source that would encompass my political philosophy, because it has come from the sum total of my life experiences, my education, and my own research on issues that have interested me. I have taken cues from individuals spanning the spectrum from Presidents to comedians. I read a lot of articles on different topics but not from one source. When I read books I prefer entertainment rather than political philosophy. I do also listen to several podcasts, many of which are centered around politics.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty is a must. Voters must be able to trust what their elected officials are telling them. I could not vote for a candidate that I did not think was telling me the truth when they spoke. Another is transparency. Elected officials must be willing to share their views on any topic and to give some background on how they came to that view. If you take money from lobbyists or special interests, you need to be transparent about that so voters can understand all factors that might influence how you represent them.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
My science and medical background will be the most important qualities for me. The ability to distinguish good quality information from propaganda is one of the most vital skills our leaders need to have today. They are bombarded with special interest talking points designed to convince them that the facts are not really the facts. And many times this can be quite convincing. But it is the same thing we see in medicine where drug companies try to convince you how great their drug is based on a study they funded and manipulated. When new research comes out, doctors do not immediately change the way they practice to incorporate that information. You have to be able to evaluate how accurate that information is and put it in context of all the information that is out there. This is the same skill that legislators should be using every day when deciding important issues that will affect millions of lives.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The number 1 responsibility of the legislature is to make sure they are being responsible with our tax dollars. That we are not being wasteful, or giving unnecessary breaks to some but not others. Every decision the legislature makes that will have an effect on how much money the state brings in, or how much money the state sends out, should have a clear goal in mind. And we should have a way to evaluate if that decision is actually achieving the stated goal. We should not be giving tax breaks to some and never following up to see if that was a good investment or not. And we should not be spending tax dollars on something with no way of knowing what that money is ultimately used for.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave a legacy of lower healthcare costs with improved access, strong public schools, and true tax fairness. It is very achievable, we just need the right people in office with the will to get it done.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The first event that i remember realizing the importance of at the time was the 2000 presidential election. I was 16 at that time and just starting to understand politics. I watched the coverage that night and followed the fiasco that followed.
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.
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Arizona House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on August 10, 2018
