Melvin ran for the
Arizona Senate in
2006 in the 26th
Legislative
District, beating
incumbent Republican
Senator Toni Hellon
in the primary but
was defeated by
Democratic candidate
Charlene Pesquiera
in the general
election. He ran for
the same seat again
in 2008. Pesquiera
did not seek
re-election and
Melvin beat
Democratic candidate
Cheryl Cage. He was
re-elected in 2010.
After Arizona
redistricted its
legislative
districts in 2012,
he decided to run
for the new 11th
Legislative
District. His
Democratic opponent
was Jo Holt. In
April 2013, Melvin
declared that he
would seek the
Republican
nomination for
governor of Arizona
in 2014. He dropped
out of the race in
June 2014. In
February 2014,
Melvin was
interviewed by
Anderson Cooper on
CNN, regarding
Melvin's support for
Arizona SB 1062,
which had been
characterized as
allowing religious
people to
discriminate against
others (particularly
members of the LGBT
community), if their
beliefs were
offended by those
other people. In the
same interview, he
also stated that he
was unaware of
anyone in Arizona
who practiced
discrimination. In
the same month, he
objected to the
Common Core State
Standards Initiative
containing algebra,
which he described
as "'fuzzy math,'
substituting letters
for numbers in some
examples." In 2016,
Melvin ran for a
seat on the Arizona
Corporation
Commission, but lost
the Republican
primary, coming in
last place.
"Arizona
State
Senator Al
Melvin
cannot
honestly
answer
Anderson
Cooper's
simple
question on
discrimination
toward gays.
He's either
too stupid
or cowardly
to answer."
Question 9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 11: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose
Question 15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
2010 Survey Questions For Arizona And County Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate LD-26
Question 9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 12: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose
Question 15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
