David Raymer

David Raymer (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent District 29. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on July 30, 2024.

Raymer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

David Raymer was born in Maryland at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis in 1984 and a graduate degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1996. His career experience includes working as a chiropractor. He has been affiliated with the Arizona Association of Chiropractic.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)

Incumbent Steve Montenegro and James Taylor defeated Tanairi Ochoa-Martinez and Thomas Tzitzura in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Montenegro (R)	30.3	66,301
✔		James Taylor (R)	29.9	65,431
	Submit photo	Tanairi Ochoa-Martinez (D)	20.4	44,776
	Submit photo	Thomas Tzitzura (D)	19.4	42,535

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 219,043
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)

Tanairi Ochoa-Martinez and Thomas Tzitzura advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 on July 30, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tanairi Ochoa-Martinez	54.6	12,373
✔	Submit photo	Thomas Tzitzura	45.4	10,304

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,677
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

David Raymer (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)

Incumbent Steve Montenegro and James Taylor defeated Amy Heusted in the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 on July 30, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Montenegro	54.5	22,153
✔		James Taylor	45.3	18,382
	Submit photo	Amy Heusted (Write-in)	0.2	85

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,620
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Austin Smith (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Raymer in this election.

2022

General election

General election for Arizona State Senate District 29

Janae Shamp defeated David Raymer in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 29 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Janae Shamp (R)	59.0	51,466
	David Raymer (D)	41.0	35,812

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 87,278
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 29

David Raymer advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 29 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Raymer (Write-in)	100.0	732

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 732
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 29

Janae Shamp defeated Joanne Osborne and Ryan Eldridge in the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 29 on August 2, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Janae Shamp	53.3	16,156
	Joanne Osborne	31.4	9,507
	Ryan Eldridge	15.4	4,655

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 30,318
= 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 themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

David Raymer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Raymer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a semi-retired Doctor of Chiropractic living and working in Maricopa County for the last 9 years. I have lived with my wife and children in Surprise for the last 7. My goal is to represent the citizens of District 29 as their House Representative, and to support free and fair legislation that benefits the State, regardless of which party proposed each bill. Our state deserves competence and ethical behavior, not actions based on wild rumor and online hearsay.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will protect public Education from profiteers trying to remake the system benefitting personally from publicly funded private schools with no meaningful standards or accountability
Keep Healthcare affordable and safe, chiropractic is one of the safest and cheapest ways to do that for one of our states biggest and most exensive problems - disability due to neck and back injuries, and drug addiction stemming from prescription of dangerous opioide medications, which should never be a first line defense, if at all.
Immigration is vital to our State's economy and growth. We don't want out-of-control immigration, but this situation arose by making immigrating legally so difficult it's not an option for most people, even if they have jobs waiting here! Just building walls is not a solution, addressing the problems causing it, and diplomacy with Mexico and other central/south American countries is

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Abortion is a contentious and emotional issue for our Nation. Abortion DOES have to be protected "up to the date of birth" which is a popular conservative meme, BECAUSE that's the most dangerous day of any pregnancy, and the most likely to cause death or disability of a mother, especially during uncontrolled hemorrhaging, and/or breech births that are not progressing.

This situation will lead to the death of the mother if not stopped, and unfortunately the only way to stop it is removal of the fetus (so-called "partial birth abortion" which is a non-medical and misleading name. Republican funded doctors lied when they said this situation never happens.
Such a thing cannot be survived by the fetus, so their claim that it will be "killed after birth" is another patent and inflammatory lie. The fetus's position before birth can NOT be changed before birth, another false claim of theirs. If that were the case there would be no breech births and there are many.

The health and safety of the mother needs to be protected and put first during all phases of pregnancy. Uncontrolled bleeding such as hemophilia could also be another possible reason pregnancy could be fatal for a woman. Politicians pledging to "end abortion" with no exceptions made for health emergencies are putting women in danger and in some cases getting them killed.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Arizona Senator John McCain, who honorable served this state and his country for many years, and stood up to the pro-Trump, anti-democracy, populist wing of the Republican party and has been vilified by people like Kari Lake as a result, who mimed stabbing him to death in campaign speeches.
Kari Lake embodies exactly the type of influence I object to in our politics.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"Mr Smith Goes to Washington" Jimmy Stewart

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

Even temper and willingness to listen to others

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe I am a good listener, and able to reach reasonable and meaningful compromises when necessary.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To balance economic growth with the personal rights of individuals

What legacy would you like to leave?

Having served the people of Arizona to the best of my ability.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

One of my first memories is being taken by my parents to see Robert Kennedy's funeral train pass by where we lived in Maryland. I remember asking my Dad why he was killed, and my father said because he was running to be president. I asked who the president was now, and he said "Johnson" and that stuck with me for some reason.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a busboy at Reflections restaurant in La Canada Flintridge, California while a senior in high school. I wanted to save up money for college the next year, and also to buy a bass guitar, which I did at Grayson's Music. I worked there for 9 months until leaving for University of California, Davis

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Brothers Karamazov" Fyoder Dosteovsky. This book shows the importance of family, as well as the effects of tragedy which we cannot allow to defeat us.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Pip in Great Expectations, because he came from low circumstances, struggled, worked hard and finally was successful.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"We built this city on Rock and Roll!" Jefferson Starship. I've been playing bass guitar and singing in several bands since moving here. In Lake Havasu before that. I believe music heals and brings us together.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have dealt with cancer the last 20 years, and received chemo therapy and radiation. This gives me the ability to have sympathy and understanding for people going through health and personal problems, as well as the impact it can have on their self-esteem and finances.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The Governors office is a separate entity from the state legislature, just as in the US constitution, to preserve the balance of power. Hopefully the state congress(es) can work together with the Governor to provide effective leadership.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Arizona is becoming more urban and attracting more and more high-tech industries. I think it's important we maintain our agricultural, rural background while moving forward to provide jobs and economic progress. Arizona has always been multi-cultural and will continue to be so, and I see that as a strength, not a problem to be dealt with by draconian laws.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, I think education and experience with legal issues are more important, which I have due to decades working with attorneys writing legal reports, and working as a contracts law legal aide before that.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes definitely, as important with the other party as within your own party.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Janet Napolitano, Democrat Arizona Governor from 2003 to 2009. She worked effectively with both parties while resisting extremist legislation. She also sent the national guard to the border to stop illegal immigration causing some controversy in her own party.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Possibly

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have too many friends with financial troubles and health problem getting insufficient aide from government agencies. We need to have those safety nets for people that really need them.

Tell us your favorite joke.

When I was a boy, if my father struck his finger with a hammer he might occasionally say a word, and then say "pardon my French."
One day in 4th grade our teacher said "We are going to learn French today! Do any of you know any French words?" BOY was she surprised how many French words I knew - the Principal too!

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

I believe that's the decision of the Governor's office, not Congress

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, compromise is the essence of our government as designed by the Founding Fathers. That is a democratic process which unfortunately results in somebody being unhappy at some point.

"Democracy is the worst political system I can possibly imagine, but the alternative is tyranny" to paraphrase Winston Churchill.

I would do my best to work with people from both sides of aisle, and compromise where necessary to bring the best possible bills to the State of Arizona, rather than being a zealot unable to get anything done.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

A bill to strengthen public education, and end raiding of the education treasury by private companies

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Dr Bill Gallagher, director of Arizona Association of Chiropractors, Jacob Kost owner of "Priority Medical Group."

What committees interest you?

Education committee, water commission, healthcare commission.

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.

2022

David Raymer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Raymer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a doctor of chiropractic and active musician who has lived and worked in Arizona for the last 8 years. I have lived with my wife and two sons in Lake Havasu, South Scottsdale and now Surprise. I am running because I believe the voters in each district have a right to have more than one name on their ballot, which has been the case sadly for my district the last TWO elections. I also believe that Arizona has a right to competent, cordial government being run based on facts and evidence, not wild claims, hearsay and innuendo with no basis.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Healthcare
Education
Responsible, professionality in government

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare and education, and a humane, workable immigration policy that doesn't victimize and criminalize people for wanting to work hard, pay taxes and become Americans.

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.

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.

David Raymer campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Arizona State Senate District 29	Lost general	$2,223	$2,223
Grand total			$2,223	$2,223
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

External links

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Candidate

Arizona House of Representatives District 29

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 25, 2023

[show]

Current members of the Arizona House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Steve Montenegro

Majority Leader:Michael Carbone

Minority Leader:Oscar De Los Santos

Representatives

District 1

Selina Bliss (R)

Quang Nguyen (R)

District 2

Stephanie Simacek (D)

Justin Wilmeth (R)

District 3

Joseph Chaplik (R)

Alexander Kolodin (R)

District 4

Pamela Carter (R)

Matt Gress (R)

District 5

Sarah Liguori (D)

Aaron Marquez (D)

District 6

Mae Peshlakai (D)

Myron Tsosie (D)

District 7

Walter Blackman (R)

David Marshall (R)

District 8

Janeen Connolly (D)

Brian Garcia (D)

District 9

Lorena Austin (D)

Seth Blattman (D)

District 10

Ralph Heap (R)

Justin Olson (R)

District 11

Junelle Cavero (D)

Oscar De Los Santos (D)

District 12

Patricia Contreras (D)

Anastasia Travers (D)

District 13

Jeff Weninger (R)

Julie Willoughby (R)

District 14

Laurin Hendrix (R)

Khyl Powell (R)

District 15

Neal Carter (R)

Michael Way (R)

District 16

Chris Lopez (R)

Teresa Martinez (R)

District 17

Rachel Keshel (R)

Kevin Volk (D)

District 18

Nancy Gutierrez (D)

Christopher Mathis (D)

District 19

Lupe Diaz (R)

Gail Griffin (R)

District 20

Alma Hernandez (D)

Betty Villegas (D)

District 21

Consuelo Hernandez (D)

Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D)

District 22

Lupe Contreras (D)

Elda Luna-Nájera (D)

District 23

Michele Pena (R)

Mariana Sandoval (D)

District 24

Anna Abeytia (D)

Lydia Hernandez (D)

District 25

Michael Carbone (R)

Nick Kupper (R)

District 26

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Quantá Crews (D)

District 27

Lisa Fink (R)

Tony Rivero (R)

District 28

David Livingston (R)

Beverly Pingerelli (R)

District 29

Steve Montenegro (R)

James Taylor (R)

District 30

Leo Biasiucci (R)

John Gillette (R)

Republican Party (33)

Democratic Party (27)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 25, 2023

[1]

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David Raymer

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Arizona State Senate District 29

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 29

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 29

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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