Matt Salmon
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona
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 the Arizona Republican Party
In office
2005–2007
Preceded byBob Fannin
Succeeded byRandy Pullen
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 21st district
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
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 a U.S. representative from Arizona from 1995 to 2001 and again from 2013 until 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he retired from office after representing Arizona's 5th congressional district. The district is based in Mesa and includes most of the East Valley; he previously represented Arizona's 1st congressional district. In 2002, he lost by less than 1% to Janet Napolitano in a highly competitive gubernatorial race. He regained a congressional seat in the 2012 election.

On February 25, 2016, Salmon announced his retirement from politics.[2] In June 2016, Arizona State University announced 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 the ASU College of Public Service & Community Solutions.[4] In April 2020, Salmon was named chairman of the nonprofit American Kratom Association.[5] He was a candidate in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election.[6]

Early life and education

Salmon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Robert James Salmon and Gloria Aagard Salmon.[7] Salmon's maternal great-grandfather was born in Denmark.[8] Salmon moved to Tempe at age 12 and graduated from Mesa High School in 1976.[9] Salmon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived in Taiwan from 1977 to 1979 as a missionary and speaks fluent Mandarin 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 at Mountain Bell in 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)

Elections

In 1990, he ran for the Arizona Senate in the 21st Senate District based in Mesa, Arizona. In the Republican primary, he defeated incumbent State Senator Jerry 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

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

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

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

Elections

Salmon's earlier congressional photograph
1994

Incumbent U.S. Representative Sam 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 limits were 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 by Jeff Flake.

Tenure

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

In 1999, he unsuccessfully advocated carving Ronald Reagan's face into Mount Rushmore, stating "He's the president that ended the Cold 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.) and John R. Kasich (R-Ohio).[29]

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

Committee assignments

Inter-congressional years (2001–2011)

2002 gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull was ineligible for re-election in 2002. In the Republican primary, Salmon defeated Arizona Secretary of State Betsy Bayless and Arizona Treasurer Carol Springer 56–30–14%. He won every county in the state.[34] In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee and Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano, Libertarian nominee Barry Hess, and former Arizona Secretary of State Richard 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

Salmon speaking at FreePac, hosted by FreedomWorks, in Phoenix, Arizona

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

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

Elections

2012

Matt Salmon speaking at "Politics on the Rocks" event in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2012
Matt Salmon speaking at a town hall hosted by the American Academy for Constitutional Education in Mesa, Arizona, in 2014

In April 2011, Salmon announced he would seek his old congressional seat, which was now numbered as the 5th district. His conception of term limits had 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 the United States Senate.[39] He was endorsed by the Club for Growth,[40] Governor Jan Brewer,[41] Senator John Thune,[42] U.S. Representative David Schweikert,[43] U.S. Representative Trent Franks,[44] and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.[45][46] In the August 28 Republican primary, he defeated former state house speaker Kirk Adams 52–48%.[47][48] In the general election, Salmon defeated Democrat Spencer Morgan 65–35%.[49]

2014

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

Committee assignments

Tenure

In March 2013, he endorsed the idea of bringing back the Hastert 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 of abortions as well as family-planning assistance that includes abortions.[58][59]

Gay rights

Salmon voted to ban gay couples adopting children and opposes gay marriage.[58][60] Salmon has a son who is gay.[61] Salmon's son led the Arizona Log Cabin Republicans; he left the group to focus on medical school.[62]

Salmon speaking for Young Americans for Liberty chapter in Glendale, Arizona, in 2014
Budget
Salmon speaking at the 2014 Western Conservative Conference

Salmon is a fiscal conservative and has often caused rifts and defections in his own party to oppose increasing the deficit.[63] He has strictly opposed raising the debt limit and 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 the estate and marriage 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 by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any climate change legislation that would raise taxes.[69]

2022 Arizona gubernatorial campaign

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 Republican Doug Ducey. He was endorsed by Ted Cruz and the Club for Growth, among others.[70] Salmon dropped out of the race on June 28, 2022.

Electoral history

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

  1. ↑ "Matt Salmon – Family". Salmon.house.gov. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Sherman, Jake (February 25, 2016). "Rep. Salmon announces retirement". Politico. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon to join ASU as vice president for government affairs". Arizona State University. June 3, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Matt Salmon | iSearch". Archived from the original on July 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ "American Kratom Association – AKA Announcement on Leadership Change". Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Greenwood, Max (June 16, 2021). "Former Rep. Matt Salmon launches gubernatorial bid in Arizona". The Hill. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Gloria Salmon 1922–2018". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Niels Jensen Aagard". Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "105th Congress – Arizona" (PDF). govinfo.gov. June 4, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ "New House members of 113th Congress: Q-R-S". Politico. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Dockstater, Julie A. (January 21, 1995). "Lopsided defeat in 7th grade didn't prevent later success". Deseret News. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Salmon, Matthew James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Candidate – Jerry Gillespie". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  14. ↑ "AZ State Senate 21 Race – Nov 06, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  15. ↑ "AZ State Senate 21 Race – Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Kingman Daily Miner". wayback.archive-it.org. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved June 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. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  23. ↑ "AZ District 1 Race". Our Campaigns. November 8, 1994. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  24. ↑ "AZ District 1 Race". Our Campaigns. November 5, 1996. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  25. ↑ "AZ District 1 Race". Our Campaigns. November 3, 1998. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  26. ↑ Hansen, Ronald J. "Salmon leaves Congress for a second time". azcentral. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  27. ↑ Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ "Reagan for Rushmore". BBC News. March 1, 1999.
  29. ↑ Therrien, Khiota (February 15, 1999). "Will Reagan Be Chiseled Out". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Asia-Pacific | Academic freed by China flies home". BBC. January 29, 2000. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  35. ↑ "AZ Governor Race – Nov 05, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  36. ↑ Nelson, Gary (June 1, 2006). "Ex-Builder Seeks Mesa Mayoral Seat". The Arizona Republic. Newsbank. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  37. ↑ Timberlake Membership Software, www.timberlakepublishing.com (December 4, 2007). "Comptel". Comptel. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  38. ↑ "They Took the Pledge". The Weekly Standard. February 9, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  39. ↑ Walsh, Jim (April 19, 2011). "Matt Salmon seeks to replace Jeff Flake in U.S. House". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Matt Salmon (AZ-05)". Clubforgrowth.org. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  41. ↑ Welch, Dennis (July 10, 2012). "Gov. Brewer makes first congressional endorsement, backs Salmon | azfamily.com Phoenix". Azfamily.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  42. ↑ Catanese, David (August 2, 2011). "Thune endorses Matt Salmon". Politico. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  43. ↑ Catanese, David (February 1, 2012). "Schweikert endorses Salmon". Politico. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  44. ↑ Catanese, David (April 28, 2011). "Kyl for Adams, Franks for Salmon". Politico. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Breaking: Governor Jeb Bush Endorses Matt Salmon". Salmonforcongress.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  46. ↑ Nowicki, Dan (August 18, 2012). "Gingrich endorses Adams over his old House rival Salmon". Azcentral.com. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  47. ↑ "AZ District 05 – R Primary Race – Aug 28, 2012". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Primary Election". September 18, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  49. ↑ "AZ – District 05 Race – Nov 06, 2012". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  55. ↑ Ohikuare, Svati Kirsten Narula, Ryan Jacobs, Judith (October 4, 2013). "32 Republicans Who Caused the Government Shutdown". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  58. 1 2 "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. Retrieved April 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. Retrieved April 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. 1 2 "Rep. Salmon's Vote on Raising the Debt Ceiling". Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona. January 23, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013.
  65. ↑ "Rep. Salmon: 'Medicaid needs reform, not expansion'". Matt Salmon: 5th District of Arizona. January 23, 2013. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
  66. ↑ "Matt Salmon Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge". Salmon For Congress. June 8, 2011. Archived from the original on 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 from the original on June 15, 2013.
  69. ↑ "Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Matt Salmon" (PDF). Americansforprosperity.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Ted Cruz endorses Matt Salmon for Arizona governor". Fox News. June 29, 2021.

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