Shawnna Bolick
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Shawnna Bolick
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 2
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
American University, Washington, DC, all coursework completed for MPP, 1999
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, B.A., 1997
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, economics classes, 1994
WORK & MILITARY
Arizona’s Early Childhood Education & Health Board
Heritage Foundation
Senator Rick Santorum
Lt. Gov. Rick Perry
Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission
Arizona Tax System Modernization Project Advisory Committee
AFFILIATIONS
Benchmark School, Past Board member and secretary
BASIS Phoenix Boosters, Founder and former President
Arizona Board of Education’s Academic Standards, Past member, public school parent
Arizona’s Early Childhood Education and Health Bd, former board member
BASIS Scottsdale school board, former board member
Syracuse University Alumni Club Association, former board member
Alpha Phi Omega, member
MOMS Club, former member w/various leadership roles
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
AZ House, 2019-2023
GOP Precinct Committeeman, 2010-current
AZ Senate, 2023-current
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
AZ Senate, 2023-2024
AZ House, 2010, 2014
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (6)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF; Barry Goldwater Jr; Mark Brnovich; Stand For Health Freedom; AZ MAGA
OTHER (7)
Arizona Nurses Association PAC; Greater Phoenix Chamber; Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Arizona Police Association; Arizona Fraternal Order of Police
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)
Walter Blackman (2024); Alexander Kolodin (2022); Jamie Kelly (2022); Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022); Nancy Barto (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (32)
Jamie Kelly (2022); Lawrence Hudson (2022); Linda Busam (2022); Regina Cobb (2022); Alexander Kolodin (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION*
Key Votes from Vote Smart
Turning Point Action Scorecard
*Signed Election Transparency Initiative's Candidate Pledge and Survey, July 2022.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Arizona's current law limits abortion at 15 weeks. I would support a heartbeat protection bill like Florida passed with exceptions for women who are victims of rape, incest and human trafficking, or whose baby has a devastating diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality. We should also consider modeling a bill after Florida's Heartbeat Protection Act that also provides additional resources for young mothers and families.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I didn't support churches being shutdown during covid. It was a travesty knowing so many individuals who were shut out of their houses of worship only to turn to online services. Sadly, I don't think smaller congregations will ever fully recover because many individuals chose to find a church that was open and haven't returned to their previous church.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
In Arizona's case of Brush & Nib Studio v. City of Phoenix, religious freedom rules. The high court struck down a Phoenix law that threatened two artists their ability to create calligraphy art work without potential coercion from the local city. Freedom of religion is fundamental to one's right to earn a living.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, the US and Israel have been allies for a very long time. Arizona has an important relationship with Israel's Iron Dome air-defense system. The missiles are manufactured with Raytheon, but now RTX Corp.'s components made in Arizona. Arizona is also looking to Israel with its water conservation efforts. A few years ago Arizona opened a trade office in Israel, too.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Sadly, we have a lot of government-funded programs that have seen America’s taxpayers misspent or defrauded, including Medicare and Medicaid and other Health and Human Services funds. Many healthy Americans don't want to lose their current health insurance to Medicare, but government has forced its hand to Americans over 65 years of age. After Obamacare was passed, I lost my own private insurance and was forced to pay higher premiums for worse quality of care.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I don't support government-mandated vaccinations, especially when they waived liability over the manufacturer from vaccine injury. I have received many inquiries and pleas for help from vaccine injured Arizonans since covid.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
These minimum wage increases continue to damage our economy. Kids have a hard time entering the job market due to these increases for entry level work, competing with older individuals who are still hourly minimum wage employees.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Sadly, when Biden ascended to the office he put a stop to any border security measures from the previous administration and sold off remaining components taxpayers had already bought to build the wall. When I traveled to the border in 2021 and 2022, Border Patrol and local law enforcement officers showed us the cameras and technology that were installed to help secure the border, but they were unsure they would ever be turned on to help surveil the area.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
I don't support the defund the police movement. In my district and across Arizona, we are having a hard time finding enough qualified individuals who'd like to become a public safety professional serving our communities. I have continually advocated for pay raises and bonuses for our law enforcement professionals because we need to retain these employees.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Article II, § 26 of the Arizona Constitution states: “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired.." I support the freedom to carry. In accordance with our state's constitution, I stand ready to further protect the right of law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm openly or discreetly anywhere they have a right to be.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
I have provided several Arizona public and private schools information for the Faster Saves Lives program. If you are a school, and your teachers are interested in being trained, please visit https://fastersaveslives.org
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
no
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
no
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To be as limited as possible and to protect our public safety.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
I have supported all parental rights bills since I was elected.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised in a Roman Catholic household. I have been married to the same man since 2001. Between us we have four children, and two grandchildren. Come January 2025, my oldest son is getting married and we can't wait to have another daughter-in-law.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
For the past 15 years, students have been failing to pass many of our military's entrance exams. This is most likely a reflection on the declining public school system that produces graduates who can't answer basic math, science and reading questions, not necessarily a result of racism. Sadly, under Biden, the federal government has interwoven more DEI training into our military and other government agencies. We need to return to reading, writing, & arithmetic, instead of focusing on SEL.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
I was a conference chair in 2022 with Senator Mesnard to stop CRT in our classrooms. Sadly, the Republicans didn't get the bill across the line and signed into law by Governor Ducey because a few legislators when on vacation right before we Sine Die.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
I have voted to protect women and girls sports, locker rooms, bathrooms, etc. every single time a bill has come up for a vote since I was elected in 2018.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
c We need to get back to being more energy independent. In 2019, the Navajo Nation Arizona shuttered the Navajo Generating Station. This coal-fired power plant produced electrical power to Arizonans and it also provided the power for pumping Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project. Thankfully, we still have Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. I would advocate for nuclear microreactor. Since they are smaller, hopefully, they could get approved to come online more quickly.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear and micro reactors.
