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JK

Arizona candidate

John Kavanagh

Republican PartyState Senate 3
Campaign website

Issue position chart

Weighted average of sourced issue positions across four political axes.

LibertarianismIndividualismInstitutional FederalismIsolationism
John Kavanagh

About John

John Kavanagh is an Arizona state senator running for reelection in District 3. His campaign biography says he was first elected to the Legislature in 2006 and has served in both chambers, including leadership and appropriations roles.

According to his campaign biography, Kavanagh spent twenty years with the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey, retiring as a detective sergeant, and later taught criminal justice at Scottsdale Community College. It lists a bachelor's degree from New York University, a master's in government from St. John's University and a doctorate in criminal justice from Rutgers.

On the issues 16

What John has said, with sources.

Taxes

His campaign identifies lower taxes as a priority.

Immigration enforcement

Supports expanded state enforcement against illegal border crossings.

School choice

Supports universal Empowerment Scholarship Accounts and school-choice tax credits; opposes ending those programs or imposing additional regulation and testing on private schools.

School curriculum and parents

Supports parental consent for sexuality-related activities and student pronoun changes. Prefers curriculum access on request over requiring universal online publication.

School spending and athletics

Supports a 60% classroom-spending floor and access to public-school athletics for ESA students. Supports sports eligibility based on female sex.

Abortion

Supports restrictions on taxpayer funding for abortion and repeatedly asking voters to repeal Proposition 139.

Firearms

Opposes additional state firearm restrictions and favors allowing concealed carry in more locations.

Assisted dying

Opposes legalizing physician-assisted suicide and says participating doctors should face prosecution.

Nondiscrimination law

Opposes adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in state nondiscrimination law.

Cannabis

Opposes expanding recreational access; allows for medically supported treatment in his stated position.

Children online

Supports stronger age verification and parental-consent requirements for minors using social media and mobile apps.

Criminal penalties

Supports tougher penalties for distributing fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and for purchasing sex.

Election procedures

Supports voter identification verification and ballot-security requirements.

Religious liberty

Supports professional and medical conscience protections, regulatory exemptions for faith-based organizations and protections against belief-based banking exclusion.

Housing for public servants

In a January 2026 interview, proposed using closed schools for teachers, first responders and other public servants. He acknowledged the limited scale and said he would address concerns about tying housing to employment. This describes a proposal, not enacted policy.

Petting-zoo safety

In the same January interview, supported hand-washing or sanitizing stations, signs and barriers to reduce exposure risks at petting zoos. This describes his proposal, not proof of enactment.

Summaries describe attributed statements, not verified outcomes or a complete platform. Questionnaire submission dates are unknown unless stated. Earlier campaigns and legislative proposals remain in their original context.

Explore the evidenceView this race

Quiz-statement positions

14 listed positions shown in this view.

Authoritarianism vs. Libertarianism5 positions

  • Government-sanctioned background checks should be required for any and all firearm purchases

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source

  • "Assault-Style" Rifles Should be Banned

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source

  • Charter schools, which are run by private organizations but funded by the government, should continue to exist

    Strongly agreeCandidate source

  • There should be a "big, beautiful wall" along the US-Mexico border

    Strongly agreeCandidate source

  • Transgender individuals should be allowed to use the bathroom of their preference in K-12 public schools

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source
Collectivism vs. Individualism8 positions

  • We should raise taxes on the wealthy to increase benefits for the poor

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source

  • The government should ban private and charter schools, ensuring every child receives a public education

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source

  • Every child deserves access to excellent education options regardless of their family income or zip code

    Strongly agreeCandidate source

  • Arizona taxpayers should fund abortion services through public programs

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source

  • Each unborn individual has rights which triumph over any collective argument for abortion

    Strongly agreeCandidate source

  • Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports undermines the fairness and individual achievements of female athletes

    Strongly agreeCandidate source

  • Every human has the right to immigrate to the United States and nobody is illegal on stolen land

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source

  • The United States should have no limits on annual immigration

    Strongly disagreeCandidate source
Direct Populism vs. Institutional Federalism1 position

Sources and evidence

16 published source records. Each record preserves the source’s review scope and limits.