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Matt Salmon

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Matt Salmon
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
fromArizona
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byDavid Schweikert
Succeeded byAndy Biggs
Constituency5th district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded bySam Coppersmith
Succeeded byJeff Flake
Constituency1st district
Chair of theArizona Republican Party
In office
2005–2007
Preceded byBob Fannin
Succeeded byRandy Pullen
Member of theArizona Senate
from the21stdistrict
In office
January 14, 1991 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byJerry Gillespie
Succeeded byStan Barnes
Personal details
Born
Matthew James Salmon

(1958-01-21)January 21, 1958(age 66)
Salt Lake City,Utah,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Nancy Huish
​
(m.1981)​
[1]
Children4
EducationArizona State University(BA)
Brigham Young University(MPA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website

Matthew James Salmon(born January 21, 1958) is an American politician who served as aU.S. representativefromArizonafrom 1995 to 2001 and again from 2013 until 2017. A member of theRepublican Party,he retired from office after representingArizona's 5th congressional district.The district is based inMesaand includes most of theEast Valley;he previously representedArizona's 1st congressional district.In2002,he lost by less than 1% toJanet Napolitanoin a highly competitivegubernatorial race.He regained a congressional seat in the2012 election.

On February 25, 2016, Salmon announced his retirement from politics.[2]In June 2016,Arizona State Universityannounced that Salmon would join his undergraduate alma mater as vice president for government affairs in the office of government and community engagement. In this position, Salmon oversees the university's local, state and federal relations teams.[3]He also holds a faculty appointment as a professor of practice in public affairs in theASU College of Public Service & Community Solutions.[4]In April 2020, Salmon was named chairman of the nonprofitAmerican Kratom Association.[5]He was a candidate in the2022 Arizona gubernatorial election.[6]

Early life and education

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Salmon was born inSalt Lake City,Utah,to Robert James Salmon and Gloria Aagard Salmon.[7]Salmon's maternal great-grandfather was born inDenmark.[8]Salmon moved toTempeat age 12 and graduated fromMesa High Schoolin 1976.[9]Salmon is a member ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.He lived inTaiwanfrom 1977 to 1979 as a missionary and speaks fluentMandarin Chinese.[10]Salmon was also a Sunday School teacher,cubmaster,and gospel doctrine teacher with his church.[11]After graduating from college, Salmon worked as a telecommunications executive atMountain Bellin 1981, eventually becoming community relations manager with Mountain Bell's successor,US West.Salmon was offered the position of director of public relations with US West in 1990, but declined the position after deciding to run for state senate.[11][12]

Arizona Senate (1991–1995)

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Elections

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In 1990, he ran for theArizona Senatein the 21st Senate District based inMesa, Arizona.In the Republican primary, he defeated incumbent State SenatorJerry Gillespie.[13]In the general election, he defeated Democrat Bill Hegarty 60–40%.[14]In 1992, he won re-election to a second term unopposed.[15]

Tenure

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In 1992, he was elected assistant majority leader.[16]He served in that position until 1995.

In 1993, he sponsored legislation that created new drug testing programs for employers.[17]That year, he also called for an independent study of the Department of Economic Services' child welfare agency.[18]

Committee assignments

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  • Senate Appropriations Committee[19]
  • Senate Indian Gambling Committee (Co-chairman)[20]
  • Senate Rules Committee (Chairman)[21]

U.S. House of Representatives (1995–2001)

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Elections

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Portrait of Salmon from his first tenure in Congress
1994

Incumbent U.S. RepresentativeSam Coppersmith,a Democrat, decided to retire after one term in what was then the 1st district in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Salmon won the Republican primary with a plurality of 39% in a five-candidate field.[22]During his first congressional campaign,term limitswere a high-profile issue. Salmon was one of many candidates nationwide who pledged to serve only three terms in Congress. In the general election, he defeated Democratic State Senator Chuck Blanchard, 56%–39%.[23]

1996

He won re-election to a second term with 60% of the vote.[24]

1998

He won re-election to a third term with 65% of the vote.[25]

2000

He honored his campaign term limits pledge and did not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2000.[26]He was then succeeded byJeff Flake.

Tenure

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During the 1994 congressional election, Salmon signed theContract with America.[27]

In 1999, he unsuccessfully advocated carvingRonald Reagan's face intoMount Rushmore,stating "He's the president that ended theCold War.You think about 40 years of a major threat, not only to our country but to the world at large, being ended by one man - that's quite an achievement. "[28]Salmon's idea garnered support from Reps.Roscoe G. Bartlett(R-Md.) andJohn R. Kasich(R-Ohio).[29]

Salmon was instrumental in obtaining the January 29, 2000, release of U.S.-based academic researcherSong Yongyifrom detention in China on spying charges.[30]

Committee assignments

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Inter-congressional years (2001–2011)

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2002 gubernatorial election

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Main article:2002 Arizona gubernatorial election

Incumbent RepublicanArizona GovernorJane Dee Hullwas ineligible for re-election in 2002. In the Republican primary, Salmon defeatedArizona Secretary of StateBetsy Bayless and Arizona TreasurerCarol Springer56–30–14%. He won every county in the state.[34]In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee andArizona Attorney GeneralJanet Napolitano,Libertarian nomineeBarry Hess,and former Arizona Secretary of StateRichard D. Mahoney(who ran as an independent, but was previously a Democrat). Napolitano defeated Salmon 46.2–45.2%, a difference of 11,819 votes.[35]

Political activism

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Salmon speaking at FreePac, hosted byFreedomWorks,inPhoenix, Arizona

After that race, he served as a lobbyist and chairman of the ArizonaRepublican Party.In 2007, he served as campaign manager to businessmanScott Smith's successful campaign for mayor ofMesa.[36]In 2008, he became president of theCompetitive Telecommunications Association,a Washington, D.C.-based trade association.[37]

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2017)

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Elections

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2012

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Main article:2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 5
Matt Salmon speaking at "Politics on the Rocks" event inScottsdale, Arizona,in 2012
Matt Salmon speaking at atown hallhosted by the American Academy for Constitutional Education inMesa, Arizona,in 2014

In April 2011, Salmon announced he would seek his old congressional seat, which was now numbered asthe 5th district.His conception ofterm limitshad evolved: in 2011 he stated that they were a flawed concept unless they were applied across the board.[38]His successor in Congress,Jeff Flake,was giving up the seat to run for theUnited States Senate.[39]He was endorsed by theClub for Growth,[40]GovernorJan Brewer,[41]SenatorJohn Thune,[42]U.S. RepresentativeDavid Schweikert,[43]U.S. RepresentativeTrent Franks,[44]and former Florida GovernorJeb Bush.[45][46]In the August 28 Republican primary, he defeated former state house speakerKirk Adams52–48%.[47][48]In the general election, Salmon defeated Democrat Spencer Morgan 65–35%.[49]

2014

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Main article:2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 5

Salmon was reelected almost as easily in 2014. However, he announced on February 25, 2016, that he was retiring for good.[2]

Committee assignments

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Tenure

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In March 2013, he endorsed the idea of bringing back theHastert Rule,which is that in order to bring a bill to the floor it must have a majority of the majority party's support.[54]

In 2013, Salmon was one of a few dozen Republicans who attempted to defund the Affordable Care Act by allowing a government shutdown.[55]Salmon indicated the shutdown was intentional.[56]

He also proposed an amendment to the United States Constitution limiting House members to three terms in office and Senators to two.[57]

Abortion

Salmon opposes abortion and has opposed federal funding ofabortionsas well as family-planning assistance that includes abortions.[58][59]

Gay rights

Salmon voted to bangay couples adopting childrenand opposesgay marriage.[58][60]Salmon has a son who is gay.[61]Salmon's son led the ArizonaLog Cabin Republicans;he left the group to focus on medical school.[62]

Salmon speaking forYoung Americans for Libertychapter inGlendale, Arizona,in 2014
Budget
Salmon speaking at the 2014 Western Conservative Conference

Salmon is afiscal conservativeand has often caused rifts and defections in his own party to oppose increasing the deficit.[63]He has strictly opposed raising thedebt limitand any new spending without matching cuts.[64]He believes government agencies and institutions should undergo reform, not expansion, to meet their needs.[65]

Taxation

Salmon signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, stating he would never vote for legislation to increase taxes on Americans.[66]He opposes new government spending unless it has a plan to initiate some spending cut that will offset the loss.[64]He has voted to cut various taxes, such as theestateandmarriage taxes.[67]

He was a cosponsor of a bill that would prevent political bias causing any discrimination in tax treatment.[68]

In 2011, Salmon signed a pledge sponsored byAmericans for Prosperitypromising to vote against anyclimate changelegislation that would raise taxes.[69]

2022 Arizona gubernatorial campaign

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Main article:2022 Arizona gubernatorial election
Matt Salmon campaigning for governor in Mesa, Arizona, in 2022

In June 2021, he declared his candidacy in the 2022 race for Arizona governor, to succeed term limited incumbent RepublicanDoug Ducey.He was endorsed byTed Cruzand theClub for Growth,among others.[70]Salmon dropped out of the race on June 28, 2022.

Electoral history

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Arizona Senate 21st District Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 24,191 59.82
Democratic Bill Hegarty 16,227 40.12
Write-in Tom Wilkinson 24 0.06
Arizona Senate 21st District Election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 34,417 100
Arizona 1st Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 19,862 38.97
Republican Susan Bitter Smith 11,359 22.29
Republican Linda Rawles 9,596 18.83
Republican Bev Hermon 8,030 15.76
Republican Bert Tollefson 2,119 4.16
Arizona 1st Congressional District Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 101,350 56.04
Democratic Chuck Blanchard 70,627 39.05
Libertarian Bob Howarth 8,890 4.92
Arizona 1st Congressional District Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 135,634 60.18
Democratic John Cox 89,738 39.82
Arizona 1st Congressional District Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 98,840 64.62
Democratic David Mendoza 54,108 35.38
Arizona Governor Republican Primary Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 174,055 55.99
Republican Betsey Bayless 92,473 29.75
Republican Carol Springer 44,333 14.26
Republican/Write-in Steve Moore 16 nil
Republican/Write-in Diana Kennedy 8 nil
Arizona Governor Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Janet Napolitano 566,284 46.19
Republican Matt Salmon 554,465 45.22
Independent Richard Mahoney 84,947 6.93
Libertarian Barry Hess 20,356 1.66
Write-in Carlton Rahmani 29 nil
Write-in Tracey Sturgess 15 nil
Write-in Naida Axford 5 nil
Write-in "Rayj" Raymond Caplette 5 nil
Write-in D'Herrera Tapia 4 nil
Write-in "Denny" Talbow 1 nil
Arizona's 5th Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 41,078 51.85
Republican Kirk Adams 38,152 48.15
Arizona's 5th Congressional District Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon 183,470 67.19
Democratic Spencer Morgan 89,589 32.81
Arizona's 5th Congressional District Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Salmon (inc.) 124,867 69.58
Democratic James Woods 54,596 30.42

References

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  1. ^"Matt Salmon – Family".Salmon.house.gov. Archived fromthe originalon March 27, 2015.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  2. ^abSherman, Jake (February 25, 2016)."Rep. Salmon announces retirement".Politico.RetrievedMay 19,2016.
  3. ^"U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon to join ASU as vice president for government affairs".Arizona State University.June 3, 2016.RetrievedOctober 26,2017.
  4. ^"Matt Salmon | iSearch".Archived fromthe originalon July 4, 2017.
  5. ^"American Kratom Association – AKA Announcement on Leadership Change".Archived fromthe originalon October 9, 2021.RetrievedApril 21,2020.
  6. ^Greenwood, Max (June 16, 2021)."Former Rep. Matt Salmon launches gubernatorial bid in Arizona".The Hill.RetrievedJune 21,2021.
  7. ^"Gloria Salmon 1922–2018".Legacy.com.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  8. ^"Niels Jensen Aagard".RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  9. ^"105th Congress – Arizona"(PDF).govinfo.gov.June 4, 1997.RetrievedJanuary 19,2021.
  10. ^"New House members of 113th Congress: Q-R-S".Politico.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  11. ^abDockstater, Julie A. (January 21, 1995)."Lopsided defeat in 7th grade didn't prevent later success".Deseret News.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  12. ^"Salmon, Matthew James".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  13. ^"Candidate – Jerry Gillespie".Our Campaigns.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  14. ^"AZ State Senate 21 Race – Nov 06, 1990".Our Campaigns.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  15. ^"AZ State Senate 21 Race – Nov 03, 1992".Our Campaigns.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  16. ^"Kingman Daily Miner".wayback.archive-it.org.Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2015.RetrievedJune 8,2018– via Google News Archive Search.
  17. ^"Workers win as two bills die in House".Arizona Daily Star.April 16, 1993.
  18. ^"2 legislators call for greater scrutiny of child welfare agency's operations".Arizona Daily Star.November 19, 1993.
  19. ^"Lawmakers from Pima stir anger; Push for tax equity irks Maricopa legislators".Arizona Daily Star.November 14, 1993.
  20. ^"Symington calls special session on Indian gaming to begin June 7".Arizona Daily Star.May 27, 1993.
  21. ^"Kingman Daily Miner".wayback.archive-it.org.Archived from the original on October 21, 2015 – via Google News Archive Search.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^"AZ District 1 – R Primary Race – Sep 13, 1994".Our Campaigns.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  23. ^"AZ District 1 Race".Our Campaigns. November 8, 1994.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  24. ^"AZ District 1 Race".Our Campaigns. November 5, 1996.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  25. ^"AZ District 1 Race".Our Campaigns. November 3, 1998.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  26. ^Hansen, Ronald J."Salmon leaves Congress for a second time".azcentral.RetrievedJanuary 4,2020.
  27. ^[1]ArchivedMarch 1, 2012, at theWayback Machine
  28. ^"Reagan for Rushmore".BBC News.March 1, 1999.
  29. ^Therrien, Khiota (February 15, 1999)."Will Reagan Be Chiseled Out".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedJanuary 4,2020.
  30. ^"Asia-Pacific | Academic freed by China flies home".BBC.January 29, 2000.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  31. ^Congressional Directory for the 104th Congress (1995–1996), January 4, 1995
  32. ^Congressional Directory for the 105th Congress (1997–1998), June 1997
  33. ^Congressional Directory for the 106th Congress (1999–2000), June 1999
  34. ^"AZ Governor – R Primary Race – Sep 10, 2002".Our Campaigns.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  35. ^"AZ Governor Race – Nov 05, 2002".Our Campaigns.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  36. ^Nelson, Gary (June 1, 2006)."Ex-Builder Seeks Mesa Mayoral Seat".The Arizona Republic.Newsbank.RetrievedDecember 5,2008.
  37. ^Timberlake Membership Software, www.timberlakepublishing.com (December 4, 2007)."Comptel".Comptel.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  38. ^"They Took the Pledge".The Weekly Standard.February 9, 2004.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  39. ^Walsh, Jim (April 19, 2011)."Matt Salmon seeks to replace Jeff Flake in U.S. House".The Arizona Republic.RetrievedApril 20,2011.
  40. ^"Matt Salmon (AZ-05)".Clubforgrowth.org. Archived fromthe originalon September 12, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  41. ^Welch, Dennis (July 10, 2012)."Gov. Brewer makes first congressional endorsement, backs Salmon | azfamily.com Phoenix".Azfamily.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  42. ^Catanese, David (August 2, 2011)."Thune endorses Matt Salmon".Politico.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  43. ^Catanese, David (February 1, 2012)."Schweikert endorses Salmon".Politico.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  44. ^Catanese, David (April 28, 2011)."Kyl for Adams, Franks for Salmon".Politico.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  45. ^"Breaking: Governor Jeb Bush Endorses Matt Salmon".Salmonforcongress.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  46. ^Nowicki, Dan (August 18, 2012)."Gingrich endorses Adams over his old House rival Salmon".Azcentral.com.RetrievedSeptember 14,2012.
  47. ^"AZ District 05 – R Primary Race – Aug 28, 2012".Ourcampaigns.com.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  48. ^"Primary Election".September 18, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 15,2013.
  49. ^"AZ – District 05 Race – Nov 06, 2012".Ourcampaigns.com.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  50. ^Chairman Royce Announces Subcommittee Chairs for House Foreign Affairs Committee,2013-1-8
  51. ^Some Republicans Applaud Trump Call With Taiwan,2016-12-3
  52. ^Congressional Directory for the 113th Congress (2013–2014), February 2014
  53. ^Congressional Directory for the 114th Congress (2015–2016), February 2016
  54. ^Sherfinski, David (March 12, 2013)."Arizona Rep. Matt Salmon: Bring back 'Hastert rule'".The Washington Times.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  55. ^Ohikuare, Svati Kirsten Narula, Ryan Jacobs, Judith (October 4, 2013)."32 Republicans Who Caused the Government Shutdown".The Atlantic.RetrievedApril 19,2023.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  56. ^http://www.policymic.com/articles/66021/government-shutdown-8-people-who-are-actually-happy-about-it.{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)
  57. ^Matt Salmon (April 23, 2013)."Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve. (2013; 113th Congress H.J.Res. 41)".GovTrack.us.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  58. ^ab"Matt Salmon (Republican, district 5)".On the Issues.
  59. ^"Representative Matthew 'Matt' Salmon's Voting Records: Abortion".Project Vote Smart.
  60. ^"6 Worst Parents of 2013".Advocate.com.December 23, 2013.RetrievedApril 19,2023.
  61. ^Wong, Curtis M. (April 9, 2013)."Matt Salmon's gay son talks Congressman father's same-sex marriage opposition, reparative therapy".Huffington Post.RetrievedApril 13,2013.
  62. ^Weiner, Rachel (April 1, 2013)."Rep. Matt Salmon: Gay son hasn't changed my views on gay marriage".The Washington Post.
  63. ^Trujillo, Mario (March 18, 2013)."Rep. Matt Salmon swims against currents of the Republican establishment".The Hill.
  64. ^ab"Rep. Salmon's Vote on Raising the Debt Ceiling".Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona.January 23, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2013.
  65. ^"Rep. Salmon: 'Medicaid needs reform, not expansion'".Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona.January 23, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2013.
  66. ^"Matt Salmon Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge".Salmon For Congress.June 8, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2013.
  67. ^"Representative Matthew 'Matt' Salmon's Voting Records: Budget, Spending and Taxes".Project Vote Smart.
  68. ^"Rep. Salmon Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate IRS Targeting of Conservative Groups".Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona.May 15, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon June 15, 2013.
  69. ^"Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Matt Salmon"(PDF).Americansforprosperity.org. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 5, 2012.RetrievedApril 1,2015.
  70. ^"Ted Cruz endorses Matt Salmon for Arizona governor".Fox News.June 29, 2021.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toMatt Salmon.
[edit]
Arizona Senate
Preceded by Member of theArizona Senate
from the 21st district
1991–1995 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromArizona's 1st congressional district
1995–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromArizona's 5th congressional district
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republicannominee forGovernor of Arizona
2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of theArizona Republican Party
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Salmon&oldid=1220949898"