Justine Wadsack
Justine Wadsack | |
---|---|
17th district | |
Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
Preceded by | J. D. Mesnard |
Personal details | |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Tucson, Arizona |
Justine Wadsack is an American politician. Wadsack was elected in 2022 to serve in the
Political career
2020 campaigns
Before running for office, Wadsack was a real estate agent and political activist.
2022 campaign
In 2022, Wadsack ran for Arizona state senate as a
In the August 2022 Republican primary election, Wadsack defeated incumbent Vince Leach, the senate president pro tempore.[6] Wadsack took 41% of the vote, Leach took 35%, and Robert Barr took 24%.[8] Supporters of Leach and other candidates sued to block Wadsack from the ballot, arguing that Wadsack did not live in LD 17 and was thus ineligible to be a candidate.[9][8] Wadsack jointly owns a home in midtown Tucson (outside LD 17) in a trust with her husband; she testified that she moved into the home of a supporter in LD 17 in February 2022 after separating from her husband, but acknowledged that she continued to list the midtown Tucson address as her current residence after that time.[8]
In a hearing in
In the November 2022 general election, Wadsack narrowly defeated Democratic nominee Mike Nickerson, a retired pastor.[10] Wadsack won 63,501 votes to Nickerson's 60,420 votes.[11]
Tenure in state Senate
Wadsack is aligned with the
In March 2023, Wadsack and other Freedom Caucus members denounced proposals to adopt
Wadsack introduced a bill to amend the
Wadsack claimed that the State Bar of Arizona had threatened lawyers with disbarment if they represented litigants challenging COVID-19-related mandates and restrictions. The bar said that Wadsack's claims were false, and Wadsack refused to offer any evidence in support of her claims.[21] Several Republican lawyers who had taken cases challenging COVID-19-related mandates said that Wadsack's claims were untrue.[21] Nevertheless, Wadsack introduced legislation (SB 1435) that would shift attorney-licensing responsibilities from the bar to the Arizona Supreme Court.[21]
Wadsack is vice chair of the Education Committee.
In March 2023, a recall-petition campaign seeking to recall Wadsack from office was launched.[15] The effort failed to obtain sufficient signatures to trigger a recall election.[24]
References
- ^ Stone, Jason (September 16, 2022). "Q&A: Get to know Arizona Senate candidates for Legislative District 29". Daily Independent. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "Rooting out 'RINOs': Trump-endorsed Republicans oust Arizona lawmakers in primaries". 12 News. August 3, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Conover, Christopher (August 2, 2022). "Five takeaways from Arizona's primary". Arizona Public Media. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ray Stern, Arizona state senator-elect told a judge that 'Antifa' attacked her home. Police reports show something else, Arizona Republic (December 19, 2022).
- ^ Julia Shumway, Candidates spread conspiracy theory in bid to be elected, Arizona Capitol Times (September 4, 2020).
- ^ a b MAGA candidate defeats Arizona senator in Senate District 17, Arizona Daily Star (August 3, 2022).
- ^ Carol Ann Alaimo, Primary voters have choices in three new Southern AZ state senate districts, Arizona Daily Star (July 5, 2022).
- ^ a b c d Tim Steller, Judge rejects effort to knock Justine Wadsack from ballot, Arizona Daily Star (August 30, 2022).
- ^ Camryn Sanchez, Friends of Leach file lawsuit to get his name on general election ballot, Arizona Capitol Times (August 18, 2022).
- ^ Carol Ann Alaimo, Only one race is close in Tucson area's three AZ Senate contests, Arizona Daily Star (November 9, 2022).
- ^ State of Arizona Official Canvass: 2022 General Election, Arizona Secretary of State.
- ^ a b Gloria Rebecca Gomez, Far-right Republicans denounce push for ranked-choice voting in Arizona, Arizona Mirror (March 17, 2023).
- ^ a b Caitlin Sievers, As Hobbs called for collaboration, some Republicans literally turned their backs, Arizona Mirror (January 9, 2023).
- ^ Piper Hansen, Arizona Republican legislators announce formal opposition to ranked choice voting, Arizona PBS/Cronkite News (March 15, 2023).
- ^ a b Camryn Sanchez, Wadsack recall effort underway, Arizona Capitol Times (March 27, 2023).
- ^ Gloria Rebecca Gomez, Senate Republicans agree to ban books with gender fluidity, pronouns, Arizona Mirror (March 21, 2023).
- ^ a b c Proposal to end city charters focuses on Tucson's voting system, KGUN-TV (March 9, 2023).
- ^ a b Howard Fischer, CG's charter status spared after Shope helps to vote down bill, Capitol Media Services via Casa Grande Dispatch (March 8, 2023).
- ^ a b c Mark Brodie, AZ Senate Republicans target how Tucson chooses City Council members, JKZZ (March 6, 2023).
- ^ Howard Fischer, Amendment to end home rule in Arizona cities defeated, Capitol Media Services (February 28, 2023).
- ^ a b c Caitlin Sievers, Wadsack throws barbs at Arizona State Bar, refuses to offer any proof, Arizona Mirror via Tucson Sentinel (March 10, 2023).
- ^ a b c d e Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Dueling bills aim to allow Az School for the Deaf & Blind to remain open: One GOP proposal would keep it open for just 2 years, another would extend the school for 5 years, Arizona Mirror via Tucson Sentinel (March 30, 2023).
- ^ a b c Mary Jo Pitzl, Inaction from Legislature puts future of Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind in limbo, Arizona Republic (March 23, 2023).
- ^ Camryn Sanchez, Wadsack recall effort fails, Arizona Capitol Times (September 5, 2023).