David Schweikert | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Chair of theJoint Economic Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Martin Heinrich |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromArizona | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Mitchell |
| Constituency |
|
| Member of theArizona House of Representatives from the28th district | |
| In office January 1991 – January 1995 Serving with Lisa Graham Keegan | |
| Preceded by | Heinz Hink Jim Skelly |
| Succeeded by | Carolyn Allen Wes Marsh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Sheridan Schweikert (1962-03-03)March 3, 1962 (age 63) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Scottsdale Community College Arizona State University, Tempe (BS,MBA) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Schweikert reflects on political overcautiousness in his tribute toJohn McCain. Recorded September 6, 2018 | |
David Sheridan Schweikert[1] (/ˈʃwaɪkərt/SHWY-kərt; born March 3, 1962)[2] is an American politician and businessman serving as theU.S. representative fromArizona's 1st congressional district since 2023, previously representing the 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2023 and the 5th from 2011 to 2013. He is a member of theRepublican Party. His district includes most of northernPhoenix as well asScottsdale,Paradise Valley, andCave Creek.
Schweikert previously served in theArizona State House of Representatives from 1991 to 1994, chaired the state Board of Equalization from 1995 to 2004, and wasMaricopa County treasurer from 2004 to 2007.
Schweikert andPaul Gosar have shared the deanship ofArizona's congressional delegation since the death ofRaúl Grijalva on March 13, 2025.[3]
Schweikert was born to an unwed teenage mother, Mary Lynn Sheridan, inLos Angeles, California. According to Schweikert, Sheridan had considered an abortion but chose instead to place him for adoption.[4] He grew up in Scottsdale with his adoptive parents and two adopted siblings. He graduated fromSaguaro High School in 1980, then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and real estate in 1985 and an MBA fromW.P. Carey School of Business atArizona State University.[5]
Schweikert was elected to theArizona State House of Representatives for District 28 in 1990 and reelected in 1992.[6][7][8] He representedFountain Hills and part of Scottsdale. He was a committee chair as a freshman andmajority whip in his second term.[9]
Schweikert was appointed chair of the Arizona State Board of Equalization, a full-time job, and served from 1995 to 2003.[10] As chair, he oversaw billions of dollars in valuations and tax protests from Arizona citizens and businesses.[11] There was speculation in 1999 thatArizona governorJane Dee Hull might appoint him to theArizona Corporation Commission.[12]
Schweikert was appointed Chief DeputyTreasurer ofMaricopa County in 2004 and elected treasurer the same year. He resigned in 2007 to run for Congress again.[9][13][14] Professionally, he worked in real estate.[15]
Schweikert ran in the September Republican primary inArizona's 6th congressional district. It included NE Arizona, including parts ofMetro Phoenix.J. D. Hayworth defeated him, 45%–22%.[16][17] After that defeat, Schweikert took time to reconsider and left for a lengthy vacation, which included travel toKolkata, thePhilippines,Myanmar, andSerbia, among other places.[18]
Schweikert won a six-way Republicanprimary election on September 2 with 30% of the vote, compared to 27% for his nearest rival,Susan Bitter Smith.[19]
Several organizations endorsed Schweikert in the election, including the primary:Club for Growth, the Arizona Police Association, ArizonaRight to Life, and the Arizona Medical Association.[20] He received more than $500,000 from the Club for Growth.[21][22]
Schweikert lost to freshmanincumbentDemocratHarry Mitchell, 53%–44%.[23] He later attributed his defeat on the very bitter primary fight that preceded it.[24]
Schweikert sought a rematch with Mitchell in 2010, with Libertarian Nick Coons also running. Schweikert won the Republican primary on August 24 with 37% of the vote. After having sat out the competitive primary, the Club for Growth again endorsed Schweikert.[25]
On November 2, Schweikert defeated Mitchell, 52%–43%.
After redistricting, the bulk of Schweikert's former territory became the9th district, while his home in Fountain Hills was drawn into the newly created4th district.[26] But as soon as the maps were released, Schweikert announced he would run in the 6th district. That district had previously been the 3rd, represented by fellow Republican freshmanBen Quayle. In a statement announcing his reelection plans, Schweikert pointed out that he had grown up in Scottsdale—most of which had been drawn into the 6th as well—had represented it in both the state house and in Congress and owned a second home there.[27] A revised map, however, placed Schweikert's Fountain Hills home in the reconfigured 6th.[28][29]
Quayle, whose home in Phoenix had been drawn into the 9th but was just outside the boundaries of the 6th, also opted to seek reelection in the 6th. During the bitter primary, Schweikert was widely criticized for a mailer that accused Quayle of "going both ways", suggesting that he wasbisexual. On the reverse, the mailer listed issues on which it claimed Quayle had taken both liberal and conservative positions. SenatorJon Kyl, who had represented the district from 1987 to 1995, said that "such campaign tactics insult the voters, degrade politics and expose those who stoop to them as unworthy of high office", and SenatorJohn McCain said the mailer was one of the "worst that I have seen" and that it "crosses the boundary of decent political dialogue and discourse." Quayle's spokeswoman called the mailer "utterly false" and "a sleazy smear tactic." Schweikert's spokesman responded that people "should get their minds out of the gutter" because the mailer was "obviously" referring to "'both ways'—as in liberal and conservative."The Arizona Republic asked two political scientists to review the mailer; both said that they had "never seen anybody accuse someone of flip-flopping [on political issues] that way" and said that it was "difficult to believe" that the sexual suggestion was unintentional.[30][31][32][33]
Although the 6th contained almost two-thirds of Quayle's constituents, Schweikert defeated Quayle in the primary–in what was then a heavily Republican district–53% to 47%.[34] He was reelected with 62% of the vote.[35]
Schweikert was easily reelected in 2014, winning over 60% of the vote.
Schweikert was easily reelected in 2016, winning over 60% of the vote.
In 2018, Democratic tech executive Anita Malik held him to only 55% of the vote despite spending very little money.[36] Malik won 44%,[37] the first time a Democrat had crossed the 40% mark in what is now the 6th since 1976, whenEldon Rudd won election by only 707 votes in what was then the 4th District[38] (the district was numbered as the 3rd from 2003 to 2013, and has been the 6th since 2013).
In 2020, Schweikert was challenged by DemocratHiral Tipirneni, who had run in the neighboring8th district two years earlier. TheCook Political Report rated the race a tossup, partly due to the district's changing demographics. According toCook Political Report, the 6th has the most college graduates in Arizona;[36] in recent years, college graduates had trended away from the GOP.[39] Schweikert defeated Tipirneni with 52% of the vote.[40]
In 2022, Schweikert ran for reelection in the newly redrawn 1st district.[41] He defeated Democratic nomineeJevin Hodge in the general election by less than one percent of the vote.[42]
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Schweikert ran for reelection in 2024 against Democratic nomineeAmish Shah, an emergency room physician.[43] Schweikert defeated Shah in the November 2024 general election.[44]
Schweikert made theU.S. national debt the centerpiece of his campaign. Schweikert does not endorse spending cuts or tax increases; rather, he proposes "a 'unified theory' of debt reduction that includes a 'radical adoption of technology' such as artificial intelligence, a talent-based immigration system and a comprehensive plan to attack chronic obesity, among other proposals."[45]
Schweikert joined representativesAndy Biggs andPaul Gosar in voting against theConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. He called it "one of the more difficult votes I've ever had to make." While the bill included some components he helped write, he voted against it due to the limited time to read it.[46]
In 2018, theUnited States House Committee on Ethics launched an investigation into Schweikert and his chief of staff, Oliver Schwab, over funds misuse.[47] On July 30, 2020, Schweikert admitted to 11 violation counts and agreed to an officialreprimand by the House and a $50,000 fine.[48][49] The committee found undisclosed loans and campaign contributions; misuse of campaign contributions for personal use; improper spending by his office; and pressuring staffers to do political work. The House Ethics Committee also faulted him for evasive, misleading, and stalling tactics that helped him skirt more serious violations.[50] The report laid out a "surprisingly sizable amount of misconduct over a seven year period." Schweikert said these were inadvertent errors, but the committee reported that "the weight of the evidence" did not support his contention.[51]
On January 6, 2021, Schweikert was at the U.S. Capitol for the2021 United States Electoral College vote count during theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack.[52] Schweikert voted to certify Arizona's votes but voted against certifying Pennsylvania's votes. In the wake of the Capitol attack, Schweikert voted against thesecond impeachment of Donald Trump.[53] In March 2021, he voted against theAmerican Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[54]
Schweikert was a founding member of theFreedom Caucus.[55] He left the group in 2023.[56]
For the118th Congress:[57]
The House Republican Steering Committee removed Schweikert from the Committee on Financial Services in late 2012 as part of a larger party leadership-caucus shift.[58][59] He,Justin Amash andTim Huelskamp wrote toHouse SpeakerJohn Boehner asking why they had lost their committee posts.[60]Politico quoted a spokesperson for RepresentativeLynn Westmoreland saying that Schweikert, Amash and Huelskamp were removed for "their inability to work with other members."[61][62]: p.2
Schweikert holds ananti-abortion stance[69] and supported the2022 decision to overturnRoe v. Wade.[70] However, when theArizona Supreme Court upheld a near-total abortion ban in April 2024, Schweikert expressed opposition to the ruling.[71]
Schweikert advocates for theHyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother's life, and supports making this restriction permanent.[72] He also opposes funding forPlanned Parenthood and has backed legislation to exclude the organization from any federally funded programs.[73][74]
Schweikert has a "B" grade fromNORML for his voting record oncannabis-related issues. He supports allowing veterans access tomedical cannabis, provided it is legal in their state and recommended by theirVeterans Health Administration doctor. He has voted twice in favor of this through the Veterans Equal Access Amendment.[75]
In 2016, Schweikert opposed President Obama's proposal to close theGuantanamo Bay detention camp.[76] Schweikert was critical of theIran nuclear deal, calling it "disastrous."[77] In 2015, Schweikert was one of 26 Republicans to vote against a Republican leadership-sponsored defense spending proposal, voicing concerns about increasing defense expenditures without corresponding budget offsets.[78]
In 2021, Schweikert was among 75 House Republicans who voted against theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which would require women to register for the draft.[79][80]
In 2023, he voted with 47 other Republicans in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which would have directed President Biden to remove U.S. troops fromSyria within 180 days.[81][82]
In 2015, he introduced legislation to remove firearm sales and ammunition from theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation's list of high-risk industries.[83] In 2016, he proposed legislation to remove the District of Columbia's requirement that people seeking concealed carry permits demonstrate a "good reason" to do so.[84][85]
Schweikert has repeatedly voted to repeal theAffordable Care Act (ACA).[86][87][88][89] During Republican efforts to replace and repeal the ACA in 2017, he pushed for proposals to repeal more components of the ACA than other members of his party.[90] He played a key role in whipping votes to repeal the ACA, in particular from fellow members of the Freedom Caucus.[91][92] He has argued that the Affordable Care Act is "an economy killer" because of "the cost it has on companies, taxpayers and individuals".[93]
Schweikert has been an outspoken critic of theDodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which overhauled financial regulation in the aftermath of theGreat Recession, opposing both theConsumer Financial Protection Bureau and theVolcker Rule.[94]
Schweikert supported legislation to reverse aU.S. Department of Labor rule that established afiduciary standard for retirement and pension advisers, requiring financial advisers to prioritize their clients' financial interests over their own.[95]
In 2011, Schweikert wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to return royalties from U.S. embassies' purchases of books written by the president.[96]
Schweikert opposed the2011 United States federal budget, objecting to appropriations to expand theSmithsonian Institution, conductresearch, and buildhigh-speed rail.[97]
In 2015, Schweikert was one of 17 Republicans to oppose the2015 United States federal budget, arguing that it did not sufficiently address mandatory spending on entitlement programs.[98] He has called for cutting spending onMedicare andSocial Security,[99] arguing that "hard choices" must be made.[97]
Schweikert voted for theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[100]
In June 2021, Schweikert was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the2002 AUMF Against Iraq.[101][102]
In 2022, Schweikert joined 39 other Republicans in supporting the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, a bipartisan antitrust measure designed to address anti-competitive corporate behavior.[103][104]
Schweikert and his wife, Joyce, live in Fountain Hills, Arizona.[105] They adopted a daughter in 2015[106] and a son in 2022.[107] Schweikert isCatholic.[108]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lisa Graham | 40,925 | 44.40 | |
| Republican | David Schweikert | 31,175 | 33.82 | |
| Democratic | Bill Searle | 20,051 | 21.75 | |
| Write-in (R) | Bonnie Francis | 30 | 0.03 | |
| Total votes | 92,181 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lisa Graham (incumbent) | 47,396 | 59.06 | |
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 32,852 | 40.94 | |
| Total votes | 80,248 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. D. Hayworth | 21,109 | 45.26 | |
| Republican | David Schweikert | 9,565 | 20.51 | |
| Republican | Gary Husk | 6,500 | 13.94 | |
| Republican | David Smith | 5,093 | 10.92 | |
| Republican | Ramona Liston | 4,376 | 9.38 | |
| Total votes | 46,643 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert | 14,233 | 29.50 | |
| Republican | Susan Bitter Smith | 13,212 | 27.38 | |
| Republican | Laura Knaperek | 7,523 | 15.59 | |
| Republican | Mark Anderson | 6,539 | 13.55 | |
| Republican | Jim Ogsbury | 6,042 | 12.52 | |
| Republican | Lee Gentry | 706 | 1.46 | |
| Total votes | 48,262 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harry Mitchell (incumbent) | 149,033 | 53.16 | |
| Republican | David Schweikert | 122,165 | 43.57 | |
| Libertarian | Warren Severin | 9,158 | 3.27 | |
| Write-in | Ralph Hughes | 9 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 280,365 | 100 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert | 26,678 | 37.23 | |
| Republican | Jim Ward | 18,480 | 25.79 | |
| Republican | Susan Bitter Smith | 17,297 | 24.14 | |
| Republican | Chris Salvino | 7,156 | 9.99 | |
| Republican | Lee Gentry | 1,157 | 1.61 | |
| Republican | Mark Spinks | 884 | 1.23 | |
| Total votes | 71,652 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert | 110,374 | 52.0 | |
| Democratic | Harry Mitchell (incumbent) | 91,749 | 43.2 | |
| Libertarian | Nick Coons | 10,127 | 4.8 | |
| Total votes | 212,250 | 100 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 41,821 | 51.48 | |
| Republican | Ben Quayle (incumbent) | 39,414 | 48.52 | |
| Total votes | 81,235 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 179,706 | 61.30 | |
| Democratic | Matt Jette | 97,666 | 33.31 | |
| Libertarian | Jack Anderson | 10,167 | 3.47 | |
| Green | Mark Salazar | 5,637 | 1.91 | |
| Write-in | James Ketover | 1 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 233,175 | 100 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 129,578 | 64.86 | |
| Republican | Russ Wittenberg | 15,535 | 19.7 | |
| Total votes | 145,113 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 129,578 | 64.86 | |
| Democratic | John Williamson | 70,198 | 35.14 | |
| Total votes | 199,776 | 100 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 63,378 | 80.3 | |
| Republican | Russ Wittenburg | 15,535 | 19.7 | |
| Total votes | 78,913 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 201,578 | 62.1 | |
| Democratic | John Williamson | 122,866 | 37.9 | |
| Total votes | 324,444 | 100 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 83,406 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 83,406 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 173,140 | 55.2 | |
| Democratic | Anita Malik | 140,559 | 44.8 | |
| Total votes | 313,699 | 100 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 217,783 | 52.2 | |
| Democratic | Hiral Tipirneni | 199,644 | 47.8 | |
| Total votes | 417,427 | 100 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 182,336 | 50.4 | |
| Democratic | Jevin Hodge | 179,141 | 49.6 | |
| Total votes | 361,477 | 100 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 62,811 | 62.7 | |
| Republican | Kim George | 27,587 | 27.5 | |
| Republican | Robert Backie | 9,854 | 9.78 | |
| Total votes | 100,252 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Schweikert (incumbent) | 225,538 | 51.9% | |
| Democratic | Amish Shah | 208,966 | 48.1% | |
| Total votes | 434,504 | 100.00% | ||
District 28 (Maricopa county) State Representative
Lisa Graham (R) 20,051
David Schweikert (R) 40,925
Bill Searle (D) 20,051
District 28 (Maricopa & Yavapai counties) State Representative
Lisa Graham (R) 47,936
David Schweikert (R) 33,285
In December 2004, David Schweikert was sworn in as Maricopa County Treasurer. He has a B.S. degree in Finance/Real Estate and [an] MBA from W.P. Carey/Arizona State University. Before becoming Treasurer, David served as Chief Deputy Treasurer. Prior to that, he served as chairman of the Arizona State Board of Equalization. David has worked as an investment analyst and has been involved in the Real Estate industry and property tax issues for 25 years. In 1990, David was elected to represent Northeast Maricopa County in the Arizona House of Representatives. In 1992 he was selected to the position of Majority Whip.Issue 2, 2007
...additional member designated as Chairperson by the Governor who shall serve in a full time capacity.
The fractious Arizona Corporation Commission ... has been mired in controversy thanks to politics and personalities. Now, with Tony West's removal from the three-member commission, the need to wait for a replacement to be named by Gov. Jane Hull creates new uncertainty ... Names figuring in public speculation about the appointment include ... former state Rep. David Schweikert ....[permanent dead link] Vol 34, No 116
Board of Supervisors appointed Charles "Hos" Hoskins the new county's treasurer. He replaces David Schweikert, who resigned on Oct. 22 to feel out a run for Congress.[dead link]
Karan English (D) 32,261
J.D. Hayworth (R) 21,109
Gary Husk (R) 6,500
Ramona Liston (R) 4,376
David Schweikert (R) 9,565
David Smith (R) 5,093
Sequoia R. Fuller (L) (write in) 37
In a real sense, losing improved his life, Schweikert said. Until then, he ran a real estate business but threw most of his time and energy into politics. Suddenly, at 32, politics were out.
The former Maricopa County Treasurer topped a highly competitive field of six candidates to win the right to face freshman Harry Mitchell in the general election in November. The Club for Growth PAC bundled $337,000 in campaign contributions for Schweikert and spent over $200,000 in independent expenditures on his behalf.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromArizona's 5th congressional district 2011–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromArizona's 6th congressional district 2013–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromArizona's 1st congressional district 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chair of theJoint Economic Committee 2025–present | |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 88th | Succeeded by |
| Territorial (1863–1912) |
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| Districts (1949–present) (3rd district established in 1963) (4th district established in 1973) (5th district established in 1983) (6th district established in 1993) (7th and 8th districts established in 2003) (9th district established in 2013) |
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