In Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, Trent Franks, a self-professed "Reagan Republican," is facing Democratic challenger John Thrasher for the third time in a row.
Candidates for Arizona's 2nd Congressional District (two-year term)
(Encompasses Mohave County, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City. Click here for a district map.)
Candidate: Trent Franks
Party: Republican
Political experience: Trent Franks was a member of the Arizona State House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987. In that time, Franks served as vice chairman of the House Commerce Committee and chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Child Protection and Family. From 1987 to 1988, Franks served as director of the Arizona Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families.
When Republican Bob Stump, who represented Arizona's 3rd District for 13 terms, decided to retire in 2002, Franks entered the Republican primary for his seat. After the 2000 U.S. Census, however, Stump's district had been renumbered as Arizona's 2nd Congressional District. In the Republican primary, Franks defeated Lisa Atkins, who had served as Bob Stump's chief of staff for more than 20 years.
In the 2002 general election, Franks received 59.92 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Randy Camacho. In 2004, Franks was re-elected, once again defeating challenger Randy Camacho. Rep. Franks went on to defeat John Thrasher in the 2006 and 2008 general elections. In 2010, Thrasher once again is his Democratic opponent in the general election.
Professional experience: Before taking a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Franks served as President and CEO of Liberty Petroleum Corporation, an Arizona-based oil and gas exploration company. On his website, Franks also says he is the inventor of the LP 1000 Life Pager, a pepper spray dispenser built to resemble an ordinary pager.
According to his extended House of Representatives biography, in 1987, Franks founded the Arizona Family Research Center, a nonprofit organization that strengthens family values in Arizona public policy. From 1989 to 1993, Franks also served as executive director of this nonprofit organization.
Key Issues: For most of his political career, Franks has stood on a platform of family values. On his campaign website, Franks lists the American family as his top issue, specifically calling for a reduction of the tax burden on families. Franks also is pro-life and sponsored H.R. 7016, the Susan B. Anthony Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, a bill to prevent discrimination against the unborn based on race or gender.
Franks is an advocate of "real health care reform" and was the author of H.R. 3400, the Empowering Patients First Act, an IRS tax code amendment allowing for tax credits for qualified health insurance costs. An advocate of the elderly, Franks also sponsored H.R. 1058, the Seniors Financial Security of 2009, an amendment to the Internal Revenue Code that would no longer include Social Security benefits in a taxpayer's gross income.
On his campaign website, Franks also reaffirms his commitment to Israel, calling this nation a natural ally of the United States. Franks says he is committed to strengthening the American military, and he introduced a resolution that sets a budget for the military at a minimum of 4 percent of the gross national product.
Endorsements: Franks has received an endorsement from the pro-family Eagle Forum Political Action Committee.
Chances of maintaining his seat: Seeking his fifth term in office, Rep. Franks is facing Democratic challenger John Thrasher for the third time in a row. In 2006 and 2008, Franks won decisive victories over Thrasher, and 2010 doesn't look much different. Arizona's 2nd Congressional District remains strongly Republican and unless Thrasher can gain more ground than he did in the last two elections, Franks will be returning to the House of Representatives.
Candidate: John Thrasher
Party: Democrat
Political experience: Thrasher has made two previous unsuccessful attempts to unseat Franks in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District. In 2006, Franks defeated Thrasher 58 percent to 39 percent, and in 2008, Franks once again held onto his seat, defeating Thrasher 60 percent to 37 percent.
Professional experience: According to his campaign website, Thrasher attended Flagstaff's Northern Arizona University, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in music. In 42 years as an educator, Thrasher taught at Prescott High School and Phoenix's Cortez High School. In 1970, Thrasher became Director of Bands at Glendale Community College in Glendale.
Key Issues: On his campaign website, Thrasher outlines some strategies to handle illegal immigration, including strengthening border patrols and closing down businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants. Thrasher also suggests, however, that some non-citizens be allowed to get work permits to fill non-technical jobs.
On the topic of employment, Thrasher is a strong opponent of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries, promising to put American Labor first. One solution Thrasher proposes is the creation of more energy-related jobs and green buildings.
Thrasher, as a former educator, says he favors a better-funded educational system with fewer students per classroom. He is not in favor of America soldiers serving as "world police," advocating an end to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan through diplomatic means.
Endorsements: Thrasher has received endorsements from the Arizona State AFL-CIO and the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association Local 7077.
Chances of unseating Trent Franks: Facing Franks for the third time, Thrasher will need to post better numbers than he did in 2008, the year that Barack Obama was elected that saw many gains by congressional Democrats.
Key Differences between Trent Franks and John Thrasher
Immigration and secure borders are two hot-button issues in Arizona. Franks voted in favor of creating a secure border fence and increasing border patrols to cut down on illegal immigration. Thrasher also is in favor of strengthening the borders, but he is more lenient about letting non-citizens into the United States to work.Franks advocates policies that are strong on family values. While Thrasher is a supporter of better-funded educational systems, his platform doesn't focus as strongly on family values as his opponent's.
Arizona's 2nd U.S. Congressional District
Location: Touching the borders of California, Nevada and Utah, Arizona's 2nd Congressional District contains the cities of Kingman and Surprise, extending eastward into the counties of Coconino and Navajo.
2008 Results: Franks defeated Thrasher 60 percent to 37 percent, winning his fifth term in the United States House of Representatives.
Demographics: According to the 2006 to 2008 American Community Survey, the 941,520 residents of AZ-02 fall into the following categories: 74.3 percent white, 12.3 percent black, 0.8 percent American Indian or Alaska native, 4.4 percent Asian and 0.1 percent native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.
The Cook Partisan Voting Index gives Arizona's 2nd Congressional District an R+13 rating, indicating a strong Republican lean in this district.
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