Kavanagh, John

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State Senate
District:
3
Political Affiliation:
Republican
Age:
76
Occupation:
Retired Detective Sergeant/College Professor
Education:
BA N.Y.U (Liberal Arts), MA St. John's University (Government), and PhD Rutgers (Criminal Justice)
Family:
Maried with two children
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Biographical Info:

John Kavanagh is a dedicated public servant, a conservative leader, and a man of strong faith and values who has spent his life serving others. First elected to the Arizona Legislature in 2006, he has always stood for faith, family, and freedom.

Before entering public office, Senator Kavanagh served 20 years as a police officer and detective sergeant with the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey, protecting the public and upholding the rule of law. He holds degrees from New York University, St. John’s University, and Rutgers University, and spent decades as a college professor teaching criminal justice and government, helping guide the next generation.

In the Legislature, he has worked to defend religious liberty, protect the unborn, secure the border, support law enforcement, protect school choice, and preserve parental rights. He has also served in key leadership roles, including Senate Majority Leader and Appropriations Chairman.

In his 20 years in the legislature, he has consistently voted in line with the positions of the Center for Arizona Policy and has been recognized by the Center for Arizona Policy as such.

John and his wife, Linda, a former mayor of Fountain Hills, have been married for 50 years and raised their family in Arizona, grounded in faith and community.

Statement:

I am running for re-election because I believe our state and nation are at a turning point. The values that have long guided our communities—faith, family, personal responsibility, and respect for life—are increasingly being challenged. I believe it is essential that we stand firm in defending those principles.

Throughout my service, I have worked to protect religious liberty, defend the unborn, support strong families, remove “woke” ideology from schools, and ensure parents—not government—have the primary role in raising and educating their children. I have also been a consistent supporter of law enforcement and the rule of law, recognizing that safe communities are the foundation upon which families and faith can flourish.

I believe the government should be limited, accountable, and respectful of individual freedoms, including our First Amendment right to live out our faith without interference.

I am running to continue that work—to be a strong, steady voice for the values we share, and to ensure Arizona remains a place where people of faith can live, work, and raise their families in freedom.

I would be honored to have your support.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation
Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Enacting state-level restrictions on firearm ownership beyond current Arizona law. O* Arizona's firearms laws respect the 2nd Amendment, and I will protect them. In addition, I would expand these rights, especially allowing people to carry concealed weapons in more places. I have been given an A+ rating by the NRA in each of my 20 years in the legislature.
2. Adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in Arizona nondiscrimination statutes. O* I am a strong opponent of "woke" ideology and have sponsored many bills dealing with requiring same biological sex bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in schools. I also sponsored bills banning the use of non-biological sex pronouns and names for students in schools without parental permission and not forcing employees to use such non-aligned names when they are morally opposed.
3. Expanding state-level enforcement efforts to deter illegal border crossings. S* I am one of the legislative leaders in the fight against illegal immigration. I helped write and co-sponsor SB1070 and many other anti-illegal-immigration measures.
4. Prohibiting taxpayer funds from directly or indirectly funding abortion services, except where required by federal law. S* I have a perfect pro-life voting and advocacy record.
5. Maintaining the universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program without limiting eligibility. S* I have always voted to expand ESAs and am a vocal protector of them.
6. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide for individuals seeking end-of-life assistance, regardless of terminal illness. O* It's murder, and the doctors should be prosecuted.
7. Allowing licensed counselors to provide therapy to minors seeking to reduce or manage same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, with parental consent. S* It is sound medical treatment and could save a child's life.
8. Increasing criminal penalties for the sale and distribution of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. S* I have always voted to do so.
9. Requiring stronger age verification and parental consent protections for minors accessing social media platforms and downloading mobile applications. S* Social media is having a deleterious effect on our kids and needs to be reined in.
10. Increasing criminal penalties for individuals who purchase sex. S* Patronizing a prostitute is victimizing the prostitute and undermining families, and doing so deserves harsh penalties.
11. Requiring election procedures that ensure voter identification verification and ballot security. S* I have always supported such measures.
12. Enacting a legislative referral that would ask voters to repeal Arizona Proposition 139, the constitutional right to abortion. S* I would support doing it each election until the voters recognize the horrors of abortion.
13. Expanding current marijuana laws to increase accessibility to recreational marijuana for adults. O* I have always opposed the use of marijuana, other than for conditions that medical authorities affirm it can help with. I have always opposed any other uses.