Alexander Kolodin
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Alexander Kolodin
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 23
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, JD, '13
Georgetown University, Washington, DC, BSFS, '09
WORK & MILITARY
Kolodin Law Group PLLC, President, '14-Present
Goldwater Institute, Reagan Fellow, '11
Aim High Institute, Junior High Teacher, '09-'10
AFFILIATIONS
Arizona School Choice Trust, Board of Directors
Goldwater Institute, American Freedom Network
Heritage Square Foundation, Board of Directors (former)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (2)
*Arizona Right to Life Action; Center for Arizona Policy Action (CAP Action)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Adam Kwasman (former opponent in race)
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Nancy Barto (2020); State Republican Party Organizations (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should only be permitted to protect the life of the mother and in cases of rape.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of church and state means only that the government may not recognize an official state religion and that no religion is entitled to priority over any other. Privileging secular institutions over religious ones is itself a violation of the separation of church and state.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
To increase access and decrease the cost of healthcare in Arizona I would change Arizona law to: (1) allow pharmacists to dispense 90-day maintenance supplies of medication when patients cannot immediately visit their doctors, (2) permit physicians to prescribe medicine over the phone, (3) give pharmacies the ability to purchase medication from the lowest priced supplier as long as that supplier is licensed in at least one state. Governor Ducey has already tested these changes as temporary measures in response to the COVID crisis and there is no reason why they should not be made permanent.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would first look in areas outside of education and public safety for cuts since these are the core functions of the state government. Increasing the tax base is also an important part of balancing the budget. My plan to do that can be found at: https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/kolodin-covid-19-pandemic-is-unparalleled-opportunity-to-bring-business-entrepreneurs-to-arizona,158351.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Only people who are already Americans in their heart should be permitted to immigrate to America. By that I mean that only people who are self-sufficient and who understand and passionately love our Constitution should be permitted to immigrate.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
No restrictions on citizens’ right to keep and bear arms are needed to protect public safety or authorized by the Constitution. In addition, it is dangerous to the public when non-law enforcement government agencies such as the IRS are permitted to stockpile 4,500 guns and 5 million rounds of ammunition. To protect the public, such armaments should be sold off to average citizens.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Neutral
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Bring more jobs to Arizona by: Helping Governor Ducey fulfill his pledge to eliminate Arizona’s income tax and curtailing the power of state agencies like the Department of Revenue and Corporation Commission to get in the way of growing businesses and entrepreneurs. Increase access to and lower price of healthcare by: (1) allowing pharmacists to dispense 90-day maintenance supplies of medication when patients cannot immediately visit their doctors, (2) permitting physicians to prescribe medicine over the phone, (3) giving pharmacies the ability to purchase the least expensive medication they can find as long as the company selling it is licensed in at least one state. Help the public monitor and ensure that money is being spent in the classroom and on teacher salaries as voters expect by requiring school district audits be performed by truly independent auditors.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism drives wedges between American citizens on the basis of immutable characteristics and so is a threat to the unity and survival of the Republic.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Life-long registered Republican. https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/kolodin-covid-19-pandemic-is-unparalleled-opportunity-to-bring-business-entrepreneurs-to-arizona,158351 http://kolodinlaw.com/kolodin-law-group-in-media/
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
During my career I have served in the classroom, built a successful business in the shadow of the Great Recession, and advocated against government overreach in courtrooms across Arizona.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I’m running for senate for a simple reason – I love Arizona. This state, and all of you, have given me so much. It’s here that I was raised, met my wife, and built a business. I was educated in Arizona public schools and I’ve made a home here with you in beautiful Scottsdale. Every day I am inspired by my friends and neighbors in legislative district 23. You have so much to be proud of. You deserve a senator you can be proud of too. I would be deeply humbled by your support. *With respect to # 13 this is a question that Arizona voters have repeatedly expressed a desire to settle directly. The state legislature should have the humility to allow the democratic process to play out without taking any action one way or the other.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Jewish.
