Spotlight on the AZ 5th Congressional District

Republican Winner, David Schweikert
Arizona's 5th Congressional District covers the entirety of Tempe and Scottsdale and portions of Chandler, Mesa and the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix. Democrat Harry Mitchell, former mayor of Tempe, upset six term incumbent Republican J.D. Hayworth in 2006 and won handily in 2008. Although the 5th generally favors Republicans in presidential contests, it is not as convincingly Republican as other Phoenix area suburbs. In 2010, illegal immigration put Mitchell and other Arizona Democrat representatives on the hot seat. The GOP candidate, David Schweikert, pressed Mitchell on the Obama immigration lawsuit as well as Mitchell's Obama/Pelosi rubber stamp votes for the disastrous stimulus, Obamacare, and corporate bailouts. Schweikert defeated Mitchell, 52% to 43%, to win the seat. He campaigned on the principle that prosperity comes from economic freedom and that raising taxes and growing government is not the way to create jobs and grow the economy.
David Schweikert
  • Bachelor of Arts, Arizona State University School of Business
  • Masters in Business Administration, Arizona State University, W.P. Carey Executive Program
  • Chairman - Arizona State Board of Equalization, 1995-2004
  • Member, Arizona State House of Representatives - Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, 1991-1994
  • Maricopa County Treasurer, 2004-2007
  • Co-Owner, Real Estate Business, present

ISSUES

  • Fiscal Responsibility - In 2006, Republicans lost the majority in Congress because they ceased being the party of fiscal responsibility. With Democrats controlling Congress and the White House deficit spending is out of control. In 2008 MoveOn.org asked: Who will pay for the deficit? Now the deficit is 11 times larger! Our federal government continues to spend money it doesn’t have and wastes billions of our tax dollars every year on questionable spending. The complete lack of fiscal responsibility coming out of Congress needs to stop.
  • National Debt - Debt is out of control! In March 2009 the Obama Administration would claim that they will cut the annual deficit to $500 Billion---one small problem it is not true. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Office of Management Budget (OMB) both say the projection is not even close. In ten years their prediction is our federal deficit will reach 80% of gross domestic product. This percentage does not have the growing entitlement cost fully built in. This level of debt is unsustainable and will put the U.S. in league with the third world’s debt ratios. Immediately bringing back fiscal discipline must become Congress’s first priority.

     
  • Tax Relief - Reducing the burden that taxes place on you and your family will be one of my top priorities in Congress. I believe that you and your family know better than the government how to spend your money. As a conservative, let me be clear. Cutting taxes is fundamental! We have seen firsthand time and again how broad based tax cuts help grow our economy and provide new jobs.

     
  • Illegal Immigration - Arizona, perhaps more than any other state, has borne the burden of illegal immigration. It needs to stop. The problem of illegal immigration is damaging our state and costing us billions of dollars. It’s time for the politicians in Washington to stop playing politics and do something about it. It is time for a plan, not platitudes.My position on illegal immigration is clear. There can be no more excuses about the failure to secure Arizona's border. We must have real border security and no amnesty for illegal immigrants.

     
  • Winning the War on Terror - The battle we are fighting against global terrorism is one we cannot afford to lose. I firmly believe that we must remain completely committed to winning this war. This is a battle that will determine the future course of our great nation and the world. We simply cannot afford to allow terrorists to jeopardize our security at home or abroad.
SB1070: “I am outraged by the Obama Administration’s actions and I can’t believe they haven’t taken their responsibility seriously, which is to enforce federal immigration law.” ----- “I applaud the Supreme Courts strong and principled stand in defense of the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms,” said David Schweikert. “The decision in McDonald will hopefully settle once and for all the belief by many liberals in Congress that the 2nd Amendment does not apply to individuals.
McCain endorses David Schweikert for Congress
The Spotlight On reports are overviews of actual Republican primary winners or top Republican primary contenders. Spotlights should not be interpreted as recommendations to support specific candidates. Before supporting any candidate, do thorough research to confirm that the candidate shares your views on issues you deem most important.