Former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon announced Wednesday that he is running for governor of Arizona, a post he narrowly lost 18 years ago to Democrat Janet Napolitano.
Salmon, a Republican, served in the Arizona Legislature before winning three terms in Congress in the 1990s. Salmon ended his congressional tenure to follow a pledge that he would serve only three terms.
He went on to run for governor in 2002, worked as a lobbyist and served two more terms in Congress from 2013 through 2016.
In a videoannouncing his entry into the governor’s race, Salmon touted his conservative views, such as supporting gun rights and strong border security and opposing critical race theory and tax hikes.
I believe that Arizona is the greatest state in the nation, but not by accident. Our state’s conservative foundation has helped families to prosper and businesses to grow. I’m announcing my run for governor to uphold those values that have made Arizona great. Join me! #AZgov pic.twitter.com/1vT5OCZmIu
— Matt Salmon (@MattSalmonAZ) June 16, 2021
Term limits bar current Republican Gov. Doug Ducey from running again in 2022.
Salmon will face state Treasurer Kimberly Yee, developer Karrin Taylor Robson and former Phoenix television news anchor Kari Lake in the GOP primary.
Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and former Nogales Mayor Marco Lopez are seeking the Democratic nomination.
