Rick Gray (Arizona)

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Rick Gray
Republican Party
Prior offices:
Arizona State Senate District 21
Years in office: 2018 - 2023
Successor: Rosanna Gabaldón (D)
Arizona House of Representatives District 21
Years in office: 2011 - 2017
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 3, 2020
Education
Bachelor's
Grace University
Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Small business owner, real estate agent
Contact
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign X
Personal Facebook
Personal LinkedIn

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

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this 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]

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
✔
Image of Rick Gray
Rick Gray (R)
 
100.0
 
75,864

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 75,864
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

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
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Brian Whitman (Unofficially withdrew)
 
100.0
 
19,221

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2

Total votes: 19,221
Candidate Connection = 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 Ryan Eldridge in the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 21 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rick Gray
Rick Gray
 
99.7
 
26,040
Image of Ryan Eldridge
Ryan Eldridge (Write-in)
 
0.3
 
79

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 26,119
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

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
✔
Image of Rick Gray
Rick Gray (R)
 
52.2
 
40,869
Image of Kathy Knecht
Kathy Knecht (Independent)
 
47.8
 
37,380

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 78,249
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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
✔
Image of Rick Gray
Rick Gray
 
61.6
 
14,497
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Randy Miller
 
38.4
 
9,055

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 23,552
(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.

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 Green check mark transparent.png Robert Burns Incumbent 23.85% 279,348
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Andy Tobin Incumbent 23.11% 270,738
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Boyd Dunn 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

2014

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 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]

Arizona House of Representatives District 21, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRick Gray Incumbent 38.4% 29,589
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTony Rivero 36.1% 27,826
     Democratic Esther Duran Lumm 25.5% 19,629
Total Votes 77,044

2012

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 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]

Arizona House of Representatives, District 20, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDebbie Lesko Incumbent 30.1% 41,023
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRick Gray Incumbent 29.2% 39,791
     Democratic Carol Lokare 21.1% 28,715
     Democratic Sheri Van Horsen 19.7% 26,790
     Libertarian Helmuth Hack (Write-in) 0% 4
Total Votes 136,323

2010

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 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
Green check mark transparent.png Debbie Lesko (R) 32,423
Green check mark transparent.png Rick Gray (R) 28,459
Shirley McAlister (D) 20,249
Arizona House of Representatives, District 9 Republican Primary (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Debbie Lesko (R) 13,638
Green check mark transparent.png Rick Gray (R) 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:

2019-2020

Gray was assigned to the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gray served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gray served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gray served on these committees:

Issues

Medicaid expansion lawsuit

See also: Can Arizona conservatives beat the clock to block Medicaid expansion from taking effect Jan. 1?

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.

Rick Gray campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2020Arizona State Senate District 21Won general$83,938 N/A**
2018Arizona State Senate District 21Won general$94,619 N/A**
2014Arizona State House, District 21Won $11,390 N/A**
2012Arizona State House, District 21Won $31,678 N/A**
2010Arizona State House, District 9Won $37,369 N/A**
Grand total$258,994 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Arizona

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.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2013.

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

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External links

Candidate

Arizona State Senate District 21
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Rick Gray for Arizona Corporation Commission, "About," accessed August 8, 2016
    2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named candlist
    3. ↑ arizonadailyindependent.com, "Candidate challenges," June 12, 2014
    4. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed August 27, 2014
    5. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election," May 27, 2014
    6. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
    7. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed August 3, 2015
    8. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2012 Primary candidate list," accessed December 20, 2013
    9. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 20, 2013
    10. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2010 Primary results," accessed December 20, 2013
    11. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "General election results," accessed December 13, 2013
    12. ↑ Rick Gray for Arizona Corporation Commission, "Issues," accessed August 8, 2016
    13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Arizona Republic, "Goldwater Institute sues over Arizona Medicaid law," September 12, 2013
    14. ↑ Office of the Arizona Governor, "State of the State Address," January 14, 2013
    15. ↑ 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
    -


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