Rick Gray (Arizona)
Rick Gray (Republican Party) was a member of the Arizona State Senate, representing District 21. He assumed office on January 19, 2018. He left office on January 9, 2023.
Gray (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 21. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Gray served as state Senate majority leader from 2019 to 2023.
Gray was a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 21 from 2011 to 2017. He served as majority whip from 2013 to 2014 and precinct/state committeeman and vice chair for Republican Legislative District 9.
Biography
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Gray earned a bachelor of science in organization leadership and biblical studies from Grace University. His career experience includes working as a licensed real estate agent, small business owner, and college instructor. Gray was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and served as majority whip from 2013 to 2014. He has served on the board of directors for numerous Sun City organizations and is active in the local and state Republican parties.[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
- See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2022
Rick Gray did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arizona State Senate District 21
Incumbent Rick Gray won election in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rick Gray (R) | 100.0 | 75,864 | |
| Total votes: 75,864 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brian Whitman (D)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 21
Brian Whitman (Unofficially withdrew) advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 21 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Whitman (Unofficially withdrew) | 100.0 | 19,221 | |
| Total votes: 19,221 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 21
Incumbent Rick Gray defeated Ryan Eldridge in the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 21 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rick Gray | 99.7 | 26,040 | |
| Ryan Eldridge (Write-in) | 0.3 | 79 | ||
| Total votes: 26,119 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2018
- See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Arizona State Senate District 21
Incumbent Rick Gray defeated Kathy Knecht in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 21 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rick Gray (R) | 52.2 | 40,869 | |
| Kathy Knecht (Independent) | 47.8 | 37,380 | ||
| Total votes: 78,249 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 21
Incumbent Rick Gray defeated Randy Miller in the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 21 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rick Gray | 61.6 | 14,497 | |
| Randy Miller | 38.4 | 9,055 | ||
| Total votes: 23,552 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
- Main article: Arizona Corporation Commission election, 2016
Gray filed to run as a Republican candidate in the 2016 election for Arizona corporation commissioner.[2] Since three seats were up for election, three candidates from each party advanced to the general election. Gray competed with incumbents Robert Burns and Andy Tobin, former state Sen. Al Melvin, and former judge Boyd Dunn in the August 30 Republican primary election.
Incumbent Robert Burns, incumbent Andy Tobin and Boyd Dunn defeated Rick Gray and Al Melvin in the Republican primary for corporation commissioner.
| Republican primary for corporation commissioner, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | 23.85% | 279,348 | ||
| Republican | 23.11% | 270,738 | ||
| Republican | 18.94% | 221,855 | ||
| Republican | Rick Gray | 18.07% | 211,718 | |
| Republican | Al Melvin | 16.03% | 187,772 | |
| Total Votes | 1,171,431 | |||
| Source: Arizona Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance
| Rick Gray Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 11/25/2014-12/31/2015 | July 12, 2016 | $0 | $11,940 | $(508.21) | $11,431.79 | ||||
| 01/01/2016-05/31/2016 | July 12, 2016 | $11,431.79 | $10,201.71 | $(7,855.50) | $13,778.00 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $22,141.71 | $(8,363.71) | ||||||||
2014
Elections for the Arizona House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 28, 2014. Esther Duran Lumm was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Rick Gray and Tony Rivero were unopposed in the Republican primary. Gray and Rivero defeated Lumm in the general election. Bryan Hackbarth (R) was removed from the ballot before the primary, while Helmuth Hack (L) withdrew from the race.[3][4][5][6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 38.4% | 29,589 | ||
| Republican | 36.1% | 27,826 | ||
| Democratic | Esther Duran Lumm | 25.5% | 19,629 | |
| Total Votes | 77,044 | |||
2012
Gray won re-election in the 2012 election for Arizona House of Representatives District 21. He and incumbent Debbie Lesko ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 28, 2012. He won the general election on November 6, 2012.[8][9]
2010
Gray and incumbent Debbie Lesko won the August 24 primary. They then defeated Democrat Shirley McAlister in the November 2 general election.[10][11]
| Arizona House of Representatives, District 9 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| 32,423 | ||||
| 28,459 | ||||
| Shirley McAlister (D) | 20,249 | |||
| Arizona House of Representatives, District 9 Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| 13,638 | ||||
| 8,558 | ||||
| Diane M. Douglas (R) | 7,763 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rick Gray did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Gray's campaign website included the following positions:[12]
- Protection for consumers through quality and rates of public utilities
- Support for a cost-effective energy strategy that includes traditional energy sources as well as newer sources.
- Focus on job-creation and ease of access to registering a new business.
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Gray was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Education and Transportation Committee
- Natural Resources Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Vice-Chair
- Transportation and Technology Committee (Decommissioned)
2019-2020
Gray was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Education and Transportation Committee
- Senate Health and Human Services Committee
- Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee, Vice Chairman
- Senate Rules Committee, Vice Chairman
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gray served on the following committees:
| Arizona committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • County and Municipal Affairs |
| • Transportation and Infrastructure, Chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gray served on the following committees:
| Arizona committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Rules, Vice Chair |
| • Transportation |
| • Capital Review |
| • Income Tax Credit Review |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gray served on these committees:
| Arizona committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Commerce |
| • Transportation, Vice Chair |
| • Ways and Means |
Issues
Medicaid expansion lawsuit
Rick Gray was one of the 36 Republican members of the Arizona State Legislature who signed onto a lawsuit brought by the Goldwater Institute in September 2013 against Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R) over the expansion of Medicaid in Arizona under provisions of the Affordable Care Act.[13] Brewer announced her support for Medicaid expansion in Arizona in 2013, and by June of that year the legislature passed a bill expanding Medicaid in the state .[14] In September 2013, the Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law's implementation. They argued that the law contained a tax, and its implementation under the control of the executive branch violated state laws enforcing the separation of powers.[13] In 2015, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled against the 36 Republican lawmakers and the Goldwater Institute, saying that the law contained an assessment, not a tax. The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the Superior Court's 2015 ruling on March 16, 2017.[15]
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.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2022.
- Arizona Free Enterprise Club — Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's policy platform.
- Center for Arizona Policy Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Children's Action Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Progress Arizona — Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's policy platform.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Arizona Center for Economic Progress — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic policy.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2021.
- Children's Action Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2020.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2019.
- Center for Arizona Policy — Legislators' votes are recorded by the Center for Arizona Policy on bills related to family issues.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2018.
- Center for Arizona Policy — Legislators' votes are recorded by the Center for Arizona Policy on bills related to family issues.
- Children's Action Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2016.
- Americans for Prosperity - Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
- Arizona Small Business Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on ASBA's legislative priority bills.
- Center for Arizona Policy — Legislators' votes are recorded by the Center for Arizona Policy on bills related to family issues.
- Children's Action Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on policies related to reproductive health issues.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Tucson Metro Chamber — Legislators are scored on their support of business policies.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2015.
- Americans for Prosperity - Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
- Arizona Republican Assembly — Legislators are scored on how they vote in relation to the Republican Party platform.
- Arizona Small Business Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on ASBA's legislative priority bills.
- Center for Arizona Policy — Legislators' votes are recorded by the Center for Arizona Policy on bills related to family issues.
- Children's Action Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on policies related to reproductive health issues.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2014.
- Arizona Small Business Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on ASBA's legislative priority bills.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2013.
- Arizona Free Enterprise Club — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
- Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on healthcare-related bills.
- Arizona Small Business Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues.
- Goldwater Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes related to policies concerning the size of government.
- Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
In 2012, the Arizona State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
In 2011, the Arizona State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Rick Gray for Arizona Corporation Commission, "About," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcandlist - ↑ arizonadailyindependent.com, "Candidate challenges," June 12, 2014
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election," May 27, 2014
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed August 3, 2015
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2012 Primary candidate list," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2010 Primary results," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "General election results," accessed December 13, 2013
- ↑ Rick Gray for Arizona Corporation Commission, "Issues," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Arizona Republic, "Goldwater Institute sues over Arizona Medicaid law," September 12, 2013
- ↑ Office of the Arizona Governor, "State of the State Address," January 14, 2013
- ↑ AZCentral, "Court rejects Arizona GOP lawmakers' Medicaid challenge," March 16, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Arizona State Senate District 21 2018-2023 |
Succeeded by Rosanna Gabaldón (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Arizona House of Representatives District 21 2011-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
= candidate completed the