Ann Leila Kirkpatrick (born March 24, 1950) is an American politician and retired attorney serving as the
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from since 2019. A member of the
Democratic Party, she represented from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2017. Kirkpatrick was a member of the
Arizona House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007.
First elected to Congress in 2008 in , Kirkpatrick was unseated in
2010. She regained her seat in a close race in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
and was reelected in
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
. Kirkpatrick ran for U.S. Senate in
2016
File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...
and was defeated by incumbent Republican
John McCain. In
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
, she was elected to Congress in ; she was reelected in
2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in t ...
. On March 12, 2021, Kirkpatrick announced she would not seek reelection in
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...
.
Early life and early political career
Kirkpatrick was born on March 24, 1950, and raised on an
Apache Indian reservation near
McNary, Arizona. Her parents were European Americans who lived and worked on the reservation. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a general store owner.
When Kirkpatrick was in second grade, her family moved off the reservation to
Pinetop-Lakeside.
Her maternal uncle, William Bourdon, was elected as a member of the State House.
Kirkpatrick graduated from
Blue Ridge High School as the valedictorian.
In 1972, she completed her undergraduate degree at the
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory.
T ...
, where she majored in Asian studies and learned to speak
Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language ...
.
After a brief experience as a teacher, Kirkpatrick decided to go to law school.
In 1979, she earned a Juris Doctor from the
University of Arizona College of Law.
In 1980, she was elected as Coconino County's first woman deputy county attorney. Kirkpatrick later served as city attorney for
Sedona, Arizona. She was a member of the Flagstaff Water Commission. In 2004, she taught Business Law and Ethics at
Coconino County Community College
Coconino Community College (CCC) is a Public college, public community college in Coconino County, Arizona. It enrolls more than 7,500 learners annually.
The college offers more than 50 associate degrees and certificates. Scholarships are avail ...
."
Arizona House of Representatives
In 2004, Kirkpatrick was elected to represent the 2nd legislative district and took office in January 2005. She was reelected in 2006. In the legislature, Kirkpatrick served as the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Education K–12 Committee and Natural Resources Committee.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2008
On July 24, 2007, Kirkpatrick
resigned from the state House to run for the Democratic nomination in Arizona's 1st congressional district. The seat was due to come open after three-term
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
incumbent
Rick Renzi
Richard George Renzi (born June 11, 1958) is an American politician who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing from 2003 until 2009.
In 2013, he was convicted on federal criminal charges against him fo ...
announced that he would not seek reelection in the face of a federal indictment on corruption charges, for which he eventually went to prison. Kirkpatrick won the four-way primary by almost 15 points on September 2.
Kirkpatrick defeated Republican Sydney Ann Hay, a mining industry lobbyist, in the general election, with 56% of the vote.
2010
Kirkpatrick was defeated for reelection by Republican nominee
Paul Gosar
Paul Anthony Gosar ( ; born November 27, 1958) is an American far-rightMultiple sources:
*
*
* politician and former dentist who has been the U.S. representative for since 2013. A Republican, he was elected in 2010 to represent the neighbor ...
, with 49.7% of the vote to Kirkpatrick's 43.7%. She was endorsed by ''
The Arizona Republic
''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. Copies are sold at $2 daily or at $3 ...
''.
2012
Kirkpatrick announced she would run again for her old congressional seat in 2012. Redistricting made the district significantly more Democratic than its predecessor; Democrats had a nine-point registration advantage. Kirkpatrick was initially priming for a rematch against Gosar, but Gosar opted to run for reelection in the newly created, heavily Republican
4th district
Fourth or the fourth may refer to:
* the ordinal form of the number 4
* ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971
* Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision
* Fourth (music), a musical interval
* ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
. Kirkpatrick narrowly won the general election,
defeating Republican
Jonathan Paton
Jonathan Paton (born June 10, 1971) is an American politician who served in both houses of the Arizona State Legislature. He served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a Republican, ...
, a former state senator,
with less than 50% of the vote, as a Libertarian Party candidate took more than 6%.
2014
Kirkpatrick was reelected with 52.6% of the vote. She faced no opposition in the Democratic primary. According to a December 2012 ''Washington Post'' article, Kirkpatrick was one of the 10 most vulnerable incumbents in 2014. She was a member of the
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Frontline Program, which was designed to help protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents heading into the 2014 election.
2018
Kirkpatrick ran for the seat in
Arizona's 2nd congressional district to replace outgoing Republican
Martha McSally
Martha Elizabeth McSally (born March 22, 1966) is an American politician and former military pilot who served as a United States senator for Arizona from 2019 to 2020. A member of the Republican Party, she served as the U.S. representative for ...
, who retired to run for U.S. Senate. Kirkpatrick had to move across the state, from Flagstaff to Tucson, in order to run. She won the election with 54.7% of the vote.
2020
Kirkpatrick was reelected over Republican nominee Brandon Martin.
Kirkpatrick announced she would "term-limit" herself and not seek reelection in 2022.
[
]
Tenure
111th Congress (2009–11)
Kirkpatrick voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
, commonly called the stimulus package. She sponsored bill H.R. 4720, the Taking Responsibility for Congressional Pay Act, to lower the salaries of members of Congress. The bill stalled in committee. Kirkpatrick voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010.
113th Congress (2013–15)
In May 2013, Kirkpatrick voted against repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
On March 14, 2014, Kirkpatrick cosponsored the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014 (H.R. 4261; 113th Congress), a bill that would alter the relationship between the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses (RAC) and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers a ...
(VA). The bill makes the RAC an independent organization within the VA, requiring that a majority of the RAC's members be appointed by Congress instead of the VA, and states that the RAC release its reports without needing prior approval from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The RAC is responsible for investigating Gulf War syndrome
Gulf War syndrome or Gulf War illness is a chronic and multi-symptomatic disorder affecting military veterans of both sides of the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War. A wide range of acute and chronic symptoms have been linked to it, including fatigue ...
, a chronic multi-symptom disorder affecting returning military veterans
A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military.
A military veteran that h ...
and civilian workers of the Gulf War
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
.
117th Congress (2021–23)
Kirkpatrick was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, to certify the 2020 presidential electoral votes when the Capitol was attacked by Donald Trump supporters. She and her staff were evacuated from their office around 11 AM due to a report of a suspicious object found in the vicinity. About 45 minutes later, they returned to their office. Shortly thereafter, the building was put on lockdown as rioters breached the Capitol. She called the attack a "cowardly assault on Democracy" and blamed President Donald Trump for inciting it. The next day, Kirkpatrick called for Trump's removal from office, calling him "unfit to hold office". She supported the resolution to have Vice President Mike Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. Days later, she voted, for the second time, to impeach Trump.
As of October 2021, Kirkpatrick had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.
Committee assignments
* Committee on Appropriations
The United States House Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives that is responsible for passing appropriation bills along with its Senate counterpart. The bills passed by the Appropriations Commi ...
(2019–present)
** Subcommittee on Defense
** Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
** Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
* Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.
History
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was formerly known as the Committee on Public Works a ...
(2013–2017)
* Committee on Veterans' Affairs (2009–2011; 2013–2017)
* Committee on Homeland Security (2009–2011)
* Committee on Small Business (2009–2011)
Caucus memberships
* New Democrat Coalition
The New Democrat Coalition is a caucus in the House of Representatives of the United States Congress made up of Democrats, primarily centrists, who take a pro-business stance and a moderate-to-conservative approach to fiscal matters.
As of ...
2016 U.S. Senate campaign
On May 26, 2015, Kirkpatrick announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican John McCain. She lost to McCain, 53.7% to 40.8%.
Political positions
Abortion
Kirkpatrick characterizes herself as pro-choice. A friend of hers almost died from an illegal abortion before '' Roe v. Wade''.
She has been endorsed by EMILY's List
EMILY's List is an American political action committee (PAC) that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1985. The group's name is an acronym for "Early Money ...
, Planned Parenthood and the National Women's Political Caucus
The National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC), or the Caucus, describes itself as a multi-partisan grassroots organization in the United States dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting women who seek elected and appointed offices at all ...
. As a member of the Arizona legislature, Kirkpatrick voted against a bill that would have required notarized parental consent for a minor to receive an abortion. She voted against a bill to ban abortions that take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization. Kirkpatrick opposed the 2022 overturning of ''Roe v. Wade''.
Climate change
In 2009, as a U.S. Representative, Kirkpatrick voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act (Waxman-Markey). In 2015, she voted in favor of HR 2042, which blocked implementation of President Obama's signature climate change policy, the Clean Power Plan.
Gun policy
Before the 2011 Tucson shooting
On January 8, 2011, U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords and 18 others were shot during a constituent meeting held in a supermarket parking lot in Casas Adobes, Arizona, in the Tucson metropolitan area. Six people were killed, including feder ...
, Kirkpatrick was described as "an ardent gun rights supporter".[ She voted "to allow guns in national parks and against the reinstatement of a ban on the sale of semi-automatic weapons."]
In 2012, her campaign website stated that Kirkpatrick "pledge to oppose any attempt by the federal government to undermine the Second Amendment and infringe on our constitutional right to bear arms." She said the Tucson shooting caused her to rethink her support of gun rights and that "everything is on the table" as a potential solution to the issue of gun violence.
After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, United States, when 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people. Twenty of the victims were children between six and seven years old, and t ...
, the ''Arizona Daily Sun'' wrote that "Kirkpatrick's position on some firearms laws appears to be changing in light of the mid-December school shooting in Connecticut, her new stance is unclear."[
In the wake of the 2016 ]Orlando nightclub shooting
On , 2016, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man, killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando Police officers shot and killed him after a three-hour standoff.
In a ...
, Kirkpatrick participated in a sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House demanding that Congress address gun violence. She also said, "we must also look beyond this terrible moment and decide what we as a nation are willing to do to prevent hatred, gun violence and domestic terrorism," and mentioned "sensible solutions ... that both respect the 2nd Amendment and keep our communities safer."
In 2019, Kirkpatrick voted for HR 8 Bipartisan Background Checks of 2019. In 2020, she introduced HR 5559 The January 8 National Memorial Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a national memorial in Tucson honoring those who were killed on January 8, 2011, when Congresswoman Gabby Giffords
Gabrielle Dee Giffords (born June 8, 1970) is an American retired politician and gun control advocate who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing from January 2007 until January 2012, when she resigned ...
was shot.
Health care
Kirkpatrick voted for the Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Pres ...
. She has said that her vote for the ACA was "her proudest vote" in Congress. She also voted against numerous attempts to repeal it, and to defund Planned Parenthood. She is one of 106 cosponsors of Pramila Jayapal
Pramila Jayapal ( ; born September 21, 1965) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents most of Seattle, as well as some suburban areas of King County. Jayapal ...
's Medicare for All bill.
Immigration
Kirkpatrick has called for "national, comprehensive reform" of United States immigration policy
Federal policy oversees and regulates immigration to the United States and citizenship of the United States. The United States Congress has authority over immigration policy in the United States, and it delegates enforcement to the United States D ...
. She supports increased border patrol funding, installation of a ground-based radar system often referred to as a "smart fence", and a temporary-worker program, and temporary protections for some of those living illegally in the United States.
Kirkpatrick says she supports the DREAM Act
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act, is a United States legislative proposal to grant temporary conditional residency, with the right to work, to illegal immigrants who entered the United States a ...
but did not vote for it in 2010.
Kirkpatrick has said that she would have voted against Arizona's controversial immigration measure Arizona SB 1070.
In March 2014, Kirkpatrick signed a discharge petition
In United States parliamentary procedure, a discharge petition is a means of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee by "discharging" the committee from further consideration of a bil ...
intended to force House leaders to bring immigration reform up for a vote on the House floor.
Privacy
Kirkpatrick voted for CISPA, which would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.
Same-sex marriage
Kirkpatrick supports same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...
.
U.S. Supreme Court
After the overturning of '' Roe v. Wade'' in 2022, Kirkpatrick said the Supreme Court was "no longer a legitimate body" and "the courts' conservatives have dismantled separation of church & state."
Electoral history
Personal life
Kirkpatrick is married to Roger Curley and has two children.
On January 15, 2020, Kirkpatrick announced that she was initiating treatment for alcoholism after being injured in a fall. She returned to work on February 26, 2020.[Conover, Christopher,]
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick returns to House after alcohol treatment
, "Arizona Public Media" February 27, 2020
See also
* Women in the United States House of Representatives
Women have served in the United States House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber, since the 1916 election of Republican Jeannette Rankin from Montana, the first woman in Con ...
Notes
References
External links
Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick
official U.S. House website
Campaign website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirkpatrick, Ann
1950 births
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
American women lawyers
Arizona lawyers
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona
Female members of the United States House of Representatives
James E. Rogers College of Law alumni
Living people
Candidates in the 2016 United States Senate elections
Democratic Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives
People from Flagstaff, Arizona
University of Arizona alumni
Women state legislators in Arizona
Gun politics in the United States
City and town attorneys in the United States