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Russell Bowers
Russell Bowers (Republican Party) (also known as Rusty) was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 25. He assumed office on January 12, 2015. He left office on January 9, 2023.
Bowers (Republican Party) ran for election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 10. He lost in the Republican primary on August 2, 2022.
Bowers began serving as state House speaker in 2019.
Biography
Representative Bowers graduated from Mesa High School and subsequently attended Mesa Community College, Arizona State University, and Brigham Young University. He later did his post-graduate work at Arizona State University. Representative Bowers enjoyed a career in construction and education, and is also a professional artist and musician.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Bowers was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Bowers was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Arizona committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Education |
| • Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Bowers served on the following committees:
| Arizona committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Vice chair |
| • Rural and Economic Development, Vice chair |
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
State Senate
See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Arizona State Senate District 10
David Farnsworth defeated Nick Fierro in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 10 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David Farnsworth (R)  | 61.1 | 53,945 |
 | Nick Fierro (Independent) | 38.9 | 34,382 | |
| Total votes: 88,327 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 10
David Farnsworth defeated Russell Bowers in the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 10 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Farnsworth | 64.9 | 23,494 |
 | Russell Bowers | 35.1 | 12,705 | |
| Total votes: 36,199 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
State House
Russell Bowers was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2020
See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Incumbent Michelle Udall and incumbent Russell Bowers defeated Suzanne Hug in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michelle Udall (R) | 38.7 | 69,049 |
| ✔ | | Russell Bowers (R) | 35.5 | 63,412 |
 | Suzanne Hug (D) | 25.9 | 46,180 | |
| Total votes: 178,641 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Suzanne Hug advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Suzanne Hug | 100.0 | 17,519 |
| Total votes: 17,519 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Incumbent Russell Bowers and incumbent Michelle Udall defeated Kathy Pearce in the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Russell Bowers | 42.2 | 23,271 |
| ✔ | | Michelle Udall | 30.0 | 16,569 |
| Kathy Pearce | 27.8 | 15,358 | ||
| Total votes: 55,198 | |||
| = 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
2018
General election
General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Incumbent Michelle Udall and incumbent Russell Bowers defeated Johnny Martin in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michelle Udall (R) | 39.8 | 52,075 |
| ✔ | | Russell Bowers (R) | 36.0 | 47,067 |
 | Johnny Martin (D) | 24.1 | 31,540 | |
| Total votes: 130,682 | |||
| = 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 25 (2 seats)
Johnny Martin advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Johnny Martin | 100.0 | 12,286 |
| Total votes: 12,286 (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 25 (2 seats)
Incumbent Russell Bowers and incumbent Michelle Udall defeated Marlene Hinton in the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 25 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Russell Bowers | 43.3 | 20,522 |
| ✔ | | Michelle Udall | 37.5 | 17,759 |
| Marlene Hinton | 19.2 | 9,081 | ||
| Total votes: 47,362 (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. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Arizona House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.[2] Incumbent Justin Olson (R) did not seek re-election.
Michelle Udall and incumbent Russell Bowers defeated Kathleen Rahn in the Arizona House of Representatives District 25 general election.[3][4]
| Arizona House of Representatives, District 25 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Michelle Udall |
40.15% | 55,941 | |
| Republican | Russell Bowers Incumbent |
36.72% | 51,160 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Rahn | 23.13% | 32,225 | |
| Total Votes | 139,326 | |||
| Source: Arizona Secretary of State | ||||
Kathleen Rahn ran unopposed in the Arizona House of Representatives District 25 Democratic Primary.[5]
| Arizona House of Representatives, District 25 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Rahn (unopposed) | |
Michelle Udall and incumbent Russell Bowers defeated Ross Groen in the Arizona House of Representatives District 25 Republican Primary.[6]
| Arizona House of Representatives, District 25 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Michelle Udall |
33.10% | 14,045 | |
| Republican | Russell Bowers Incumbent |
40.05% | 16,997 | |
| Republican | Ross Groen | 26.85% | 11,396 | |
| Total Votes | 42,438 | |||
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. David Butler and Sheila Ogea were unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Justin Olson and Russell Bowers defeated Haydee Dawson, Michelle Udall and Jerry Walker in the Republican primary. Olson and Bowers defeated Butler, Ogea, and Michael Kielsky (L) in the general election.[7][8][9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Justin Olson Incumbent |
34% | 34,451 | |
| Republican | Russell "Rusty" Bowers |
32.8% | 33,220 | |
| Democratic | David Butler | 14.9% | 15,145 | |
| Democratic | Sheila Ogea | 14.7% | 14,866 | |
| Libertarian | Michael Kielsky | 3.6% | 3,661 | |
| Total Votes | 101,343 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Justin Olson Incumbent |
33.7% | 15,907 |
| Rusty Bowers |
27.9% | 13,158 |
| Michelle Udall | 26.1% | 12,332 |
| Haydee Dawson | 6.3% | 2,978 |
| Jerry Walker | 6% | 2,812 |
| Total Votes | 47,187 | |
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Russell Bowers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Russell Bowers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
On his 2016 campaign website, Bowers listed three main issues: jobs and the economy, education, and public safety.[1]
2014
Bowers' campaign website highlighted the following issues:[11]
Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "We must make fair and honest dealing with each other a priority. Important values such as giving an honest day's work for an honest day's pay are still the best way to build long-term individual and business success. When people have real opportunities and are able to find quality jobs, we strengthen our communities, our businesses and most importantly our families, friends and neighbors."
Education
- Excerpt: "With an acquired confidence, people can move into career opportunities prepared and ready to make long term contributions to our economy, our communities, our families and other individuals - it is a blessing that must be available for everyone in our state."
Public Safety
- Excerpt: "We can do better. One of my top priorities is the protection of individuals, families, and seniors from violent crime, fraud, and predators of any kind. I am a strong supporter of law enforcement and believe that we should hold accountable those who abuse or take advantage of the innocent."
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 Arizona scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 10 to June 25.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's policy platform.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's policy platform.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic policy.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 11 to June 30.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 13 to May 26.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 14 through May 28.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 54th Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 4.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 53rd Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 4.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 52nd Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 11 through May 7.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 52nd Arizona State Legislature was in session from January 12 to April 2.
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Noteworthy events
Bowers formally censured (2022)
On July 19, 2022, the Arizona Republican Party Executive Committee formally censured Bowers. The committee stated he was "no longer a Republican in good standing."[13]
The censure followed Bowers' public testimony to the Jan. 6 panel investigating the breach of the U.S. Capitol. Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward cited several reasons for the censure, including his support of a bill providing taxpayer-funded college tuition to individuals who entered the state without legal permission, his support of a billion-dollar education spending bill, and his opposition to a bill that stated only two genders should be listed on government documents.[14]
Bowers' spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment and Ballotpedia was unable to identify any response from Bowers to the censure.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcamp - ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Elections Calendar & Upcoming Events," accessed January 11, 2016
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "General election ," accessed September 9, 2016
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2016 Election Information - Primary Candidate List," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2016 Election Information - Primary Candidate List," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Bowers for AZ, "Issues," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedARA - ↑ Associated Press, "Arizona GOP censures Rusty Bowers after Jan. 6 testimony," July 20, 2022
- ↑ 12 News, "Arizona Republicans censure Rusty Bowers days before Trump rally here," updated July 20, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Arizona House of Representatives District 25 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Tim Dunn (R) |
