Debbie Lesko  

Debbie Lesko was an extreme far-right, MAGA Republican extremist member of the U.S. House, representing Arizona's 8th Congressional District. She assumed office on May 7, 2018. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025. Lesko filed for re-election to Arizona's 8th Congressional District in 2024, but withdrew from the race on October 17, 2023. The district is in the West Valley portion of the Phoenix metropolitan area and includes Glendale, Surprise, Sun City, Peoria, and part of western Phoenix. Lesko served in the Arizona Senate from 2015 to 2018. She was president pro tempore of the Arizona Senate from 2017 to 2018. Lesko also served as a member of Arizona House of Representatives from 2009 until 2015. She became the Representative for Arizona's 8th congressional district after winning a 2018 special election. Lesko is a member of the radical pro-insurrectionist "Freedom Caucus". Lesko is running for election to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to represent District 4 in Arizona. She is on the ballot in the primary on July 30, 2024.
$8.5 Billion To Intel, 10,000 New Arizona Jobs, 4 Republican 'No' Votes
"It’s part of what is called the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, a bill originating with ... Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, working with Sen. Mark Kelly and Republicans." [ . . . ] "When the bill came up for a vote in the House, 24 Republicans sided with Democrats to pass it. None of those Republicans were from Arizona, which would reap the most benefits from the legislation. Republican Reps. Andy BiggsPaul GosarDebbie Lesko and David Schweikert all voted against it."
Mar. 21, 2024
Where Arizona Republicans In Congress Stand On Bill That Could Jeopardize In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Treatments
"Several Republican members of Arizona’s congressional delegation co-sponsored legislation that is receiving new scrutiny after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children. Republican Reps. Andy BiggsEli CranePaul Gosar and Debbie Lesko co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would give constitutional equal protection rights to the unborn. And Rep. David Schweikert co-sponsored an identical, older version of the bill in 2021. Unlike similar legislation that Republicans ran in the U.S. Senate in 2017, the House bill, which would ban nearly all abortions nationwide, does not include an IVF exception. The proposal is drawing comparisons to a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, which ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under a Civil War-era state law that lets parents sue over the death of a child."
Feb. 26, 2024
It's Democracy Vs. The Big Lie In The Showdown For Arizona's Largest County
"Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko unexpectedly filed to run on Friday for a reliably red open seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, a move that comes as mainstream Democrats and Republican election-deniers are each hoping to take control of the five-member body that governs the state's largest county. Should Lesko, who announced her retirement from Congress in October, follow through and launch a campaign, a win for her would be a victory for those far-right forces. The congresswoman belongs to the nihilistic Freedom Caucus, and she's consistently supported her party's most extreme positions, including voting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. By contrast, the man Lesko is hoping to replace, Supervisor Clint Hickman, is part of the GOP majority that has faced years of harassment from promoters of the Big Lie. Last year, an Iowa man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for sending death threats to Hickman and other officeholders."
Feb. 19, 2024
4 Arizona Republicans Side With The Lying, Cheating Rep. George Santos
"It SHOULD come as a surprise. But this is Arizona, so it doesn’t. The argument made by the likes of Reps. Andy BiggsEli CranePaul Gosar and Debbie Lesko would probably mimic the claims of Republican House leadership. That is: Santos has yet to be convicted in court."
Dec. 1, 2023
These 5 House Republicans From Arizona Voted Against Bill To Keep Federal Government Open
"The U.S. House of Representatives voted 336-95 to pass a two-step government funding bill Tuesday, with five Arizona Republicans opposed to the measure. The Senate has the rest of the week to pass the measure to avert a partial government shutdown on Saturday." [ . . . ] "Reps. Andy BiggsEli CranePaul GosarDebbie Lesko and David Schweikert of Arizona were among the 93 Republicans who voted against the measure. Just two House Democrats opposed it."
Nov. 14, 2023
These 5 Arizona Members Voted No On House Deal To Avert Government Shutdown
"Five Arizona Republican members of the House voted against a last-minute deal Saturday aimed at preventing a government shutdown, but the measure passed anyway. Republican Reps. Andy BiggsEli CranePaul GosarDebbie Lesko and David Schweikert were among the 90 members of their party who opposed the continuing resolution, which aims to keep federal spending at current levels for another 45 days while cutting funding to Ukraine."
Sep. 30, 2023
Reps. Biggs, Gosar And Lesko Back Cruel, Regressive Abortion Pill Ruling
"Eleven GOP senators and 58 members of the House filed a brief supporting U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision to suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs taken in pill form in medication abortions." [...] "Kacsmaryk based his decision on an 1873 anti-pornography law called the Comstock Act, claiming that abortion drugs are “nonmailable” and that the FDA didn’t follow proper procedure in granting approval all those years ago. Among the Republicans looking to set back women’s reproductive freedom roughly a century and a half are Arizona Republican Reps. Andy BiggsPaul Gosar and Debbie Lesko."
Apr. 13, 2023
GOP Congresswoman Thanks Fox Anchor For ‘Talking Points’ On Gas Stoves
"Promoting her proposed legislation to “save” America’s gas stoves from a supposed ban by the Biden administration, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) thanked Fox News anchor John Roberts on Wednesday for supplying her with “talking points” on this latest culture war battle."
Mar. 22, 2023

Debbie Lesko / Wikipedia

Accessed Mar. 1, 2023

 

 

Political positions

Abortion

Lesko opposes abortion. She has proposed legislation to give employers religious exemptions from providing contraceptives in health insurance plans. She has proposed legislation that would allow health officials to conduct warrantless and unannounced inspections of abortion clinics, which critics said undermined the privacy of the clinics' patients. She supported the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Lesko introduced the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act in the 117th Congress. In the 118th Congress, Lesko voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

 

Donald Trump

Lesko has been described as a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump. In December 2019, she voted against impeaching him. She said there is "no proof, none, that the president has committed an impeachable offense." In defending Trump, she claimed that he had not asked President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, his opponent in the 2020 presidential election.

In December 2020, Lesko was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Biden defeated Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion".

Lesko was one of the 139 Republican representatives to vote to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Congress at the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.

 

Education

Lesko favors empowering private schools and charter schools. Lesko introduced the Make Education Local Act of 2021 in the 117th Congress.

 

Environment and energy

Lesko rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, which states that climate change is progressing, dangerous, and primarily human caused. She has instead claimed that "certainly not the majority of it" is human-caused.

 

Gun policy

Lesko opposes changes to existing gun laws, saying "I think there's enough laws. The laws need to be enforced." She has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association.

 

Health care

Lesko opposes universal health care and favors repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). She opposed Arizona's expansion of Medicaid coverage and sued former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer after she expanded the program.

Lesko has said that COVID-19 vaccine distribution should prioritize American citizens over those who are in the country illegally.

 

LGBT rights

Lesko strongly opposes the Equality Act, a bill that would expand the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. She urged Congress members to vote against the bill.

 

These Arizona Candidates Still Say Donald Trump Won In 2020, Or They're Not Sure What Happened

Oct. 27, 2022

 
"Elected officials and candidates for office in 2022 continue to challenge and question the results of the 2020 presidential election in Arizona.
 
The results have been examined and re-examined, challenged in court and in a monthslong ballot review. No evidence has been found of widespread fraud or error in the results.
 
Yet candidates deny the outcome. Others don't quite go as far. But they raise questions about potential irregularities they say could have influenced the vote and should be examined.
 
The Arizona Republic is listing candidates by category by the race that they are entered in. This list is not complete and will be updated throughout the 2022 election season.
 

 Election deniers

These candidates in Arizona races deny that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, either in Arizona or nationwide."
 
US Senate

US House of Representatives

Governor

Secretary of State

Attorney General

Treasurer

Arizona Corporation Commission

State Senate

State House of Representatives

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors

 Election questioners
 
These candidates in Arizona continue to raise issues about the 2020 election process but do not deny or affirm that Joe Biden won.
 
US House of Representatives

Arizona Corporation Commission

State Senate

State House of Representatives

 No Clear Answer
 
These candidates have failed to answer or not provided a clear answer on whether Joe Biden won the election.
 
Treasurer

State House of Representatives

 
"Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) caused a stir this week when she took the floor of the House to oppose a gun safety bill and in the process seemed to vow to shoot her own grandchildren. “I have five grandchildren,” the congresswoman began in her Tuesday speech. “I would do anything—anything—to protect my five grandchildren. Including, as a last resort, shooting them, if I had to, to protect the lives of my grandchildren.” Growing more angry, Lesko then accused Democrats of trying to “take away my right to protect my grandchildren” and “the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect their own children.”"
Jul. 6, 2022
Rep. Debbie Lesko Mentioned A Misdemeanor In Texas When Opening Up About Her Past. But She Didn’t Tell The Whole Story
"Scottsdale detectives interviewed Lesko, then known by her maiden name, Debra Lorenz, and a series of aliases, in a 1985 case that sent her husband to prison, police records show. Authorities suspected she may have helped craft documents in connection with his fraudulent activity"
Jun. 8, 2022
Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko Heckled, Exits Stage During Graduation Speech In Glendale
"Arizona Republican Congresswoman Debbie Lesko, who represents the state's 8th Congressional District, was heckled and exited the stage during a commencement speech at a high school graduation ceremony on Friday. The Arizona Virtual Academy’s ceremony was held in Glendale, close to Lesko’s district. Graduate Juliana Butler was upset at Lesko’s speech. “I thought it was very inappropriate, and I was honestly really shocked that that was even allowed. I don’t know who OK'd that,” said Juliana Butler. She says Lesko failed to mention the graduates and their accomplishments, and polled the audience on school choice and federal student loan forgiveness. “I have heard other commencement speakers make speeches, and they were just very motivating. Nothing to do with politics, or religion or anything. It was just about the graduates. And she seemed to not grasp that and not put that like in her speech at all,” said Juliana Butler."
May 29, 2022
Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko Rounds Out Arizona's 3 Stooges Of The Insurrection
"Testimony to the Jan. 6 select committee puts Republican Lesko, along with Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, at one of the White House meetings aimed at overturning the 2020 election."
Apr. 23, 2022

Trump-Supporting Arizona Politicians Push Election Lies At Florence Rally

 
"Kari Lake, a former TV anchor who's running for governor, began her speech with the theme of some of the other speakers, praising America under Trump and listing its problems under Biden. As did others, she called Trump “president” and slammed the 2020 election as “rotten to the core.""
[ . . . ]
"We are so blessed to have Donald Trump with us here today. We know the election was stolen,” state Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, said when she took the stage, echoing the sentiments of other speakers and crowd members, who cheered her in response."
[ . . . ]
"Arizona Republican U.S. Reps. Debbie LeskoAndy Biggs and Paul Gosar, the latter two national leaders in the spread of falsehoods over the 2020 election, also spoke at the rally"

Jan. 16, 2022

Reps. Biggs, Gosar And Lesko Vote Against Banning Confederate Statues From US Capitol
"Three of Arizona's four House Republicans voted Tuesday against banning Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol in an issue shaped by the Jan. 6 riot and GOP pushback on discussing systemic racism."
Jun. 29, 2021
Arizona's Congressional Republicans Oppose Creating Bipartisan Jan. 6 Commission
"House Democrats, aided by 35 Republicans, voted 252-175 to pass a bill to create a 10-member commission. [...] Biggs was joined in voting no Wednesday by fellow Arizona Republicans Paul GosarDebbie Lesko and David Schweikert, all three of whom are Freedom Caucus members."
May 19, 2021
‘A Hit Dog Will Holler’: Congresswoman Slammed For Claiming Biden And Harris ‘Say We’re All Racists’
Apr. 21, 2021
Reps. Debbie Lesko, David Schweikert Mum On Money From Rep. Matt Gaetz Of Florida
Apr. 6, 2021
Report: Biggs, Gosar And Lesko Produced More Troubling Post-Election Social Media Than Any Other Delegation
Mar. 5, 2021
Arizona Republican Suggests Hispanics Are “Good Workers” But Not American Citizens
Feb. 16, 2021

Clockwise from top left are Arizona Hose Republicans Paul Gosar, Debbie Lesko, Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. Photo: The Republic

1,009,832 Voters Created Arizona's 4 QAnon Quacks
Feb. 7, 2021
Biggs, Lesko Ignored For Months The Voter Registration Issue That They Say Invalidates Arizona’s Election
Feb. 1, 2021
Rep. Lesko Actually Says It's Democrats Who Pose The Danger Should They Dare To Impeach Trump
Jan. 13, 2021
Arizona GOP Deflects Blame, Says Antifa Caused Capitol Riot
"After the nation and the world expressed shock and horror when an angry mob of supporters of President Donald Trump violently stormed the U.S. Capitol yesterday, some Arizona Republicans are now claiming, with no proof, that leftist agitators caused the mayhem [...] There is no significant evidence that anti-fascist activists caused yesterday's attack on the Capitol despite the litany of baseless online rumors and conspiracy theories. But the statements by Arizona Republicans attributing the violence to leftist agitators is part of a broader effort by pro-Trump conservatives nationwide to deflect blame away from the president and his supporters."
Jan. 7, 2021
Trump Zone Cultists Debbie Lesko And Andy Biggs Support Texas’s Attempt To Steal The Election At The Supreme Court
"Trump Zone Cult Residents and Perennial Right-Wing Reactionaries Debbie Lesko and Andy Biggs, along with 104 members of the Trump National Fascist Party, have signed on to support legally and ethically challenged Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Hail Mary petition to the Supreme Court to “nullify” the Presidential Election results of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin."
Dec. 10,, 2020
Rep. Debbie Lesko's Past Includes Debt, Criminal Charge She Links To 'Con-Man' Ex-Husband
Oct. 23, 2020
Lesko Misleads Voters On Democrat’s Priorities, Her Record
Jul. 12, 2019
GOP Rep Compares Facebook Downplaying Anti-Vax Content To ‘1984'
"Rep. Debbie Lesko slammed both Google and Facebook for making anti-vaccine conspiracy theories harder to find."
Jun. 26, 2019
Debbie Lesko Claims Democrats Are Just Trying To Influence The 2020 Election By Doing Their Jobs
Jun. 10, 2019
GOP Rep Wants To Call Equality Act 'Forfeiting Women's Rights Act'
"The Equality Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal civil rights laws...opponents have tried to characterize the bill as a threat to women’s rights because of its transgender-inclusive provisions."
May 10, 2019
Rep. Debbie Lesko Says God Has Put Her On Anti-Choice ‘Mission’
Jan. 18, 2019
Medical Group Yanks Endorsement Of Rep. Debbie Lesko Over 'Phony' Doctor TV Ads
Oct. 18, 2018
Under Pressure, Rep. Debbie Lesko Takes Down False 'Fake Doctor' Signs
"Lesko relented after ARMPAC, the Arizona Medical Political Action Committee, which has endorsed her, told Lesko in a meeting they viewed the "campaign signs as an insult to the medical profession, discounting the education and training required of physicians to become licensed and credentialed."
Oct. 13, 2018
'Fake Doctor' Signs Put Next To Dr. Tipirneni's Campaign Signs
"Tipirneni has had a valid medical license since 1997. She spent 10 years working as a doctor in Valley emergency rooms and currently works in cancer research advocacy. The signs say they are paid for by Debbie Lesko for Congress."
Oct. 8, 2018
Arizona GOP Candidate Debbie Lesko Copied And Pasted Bills Written By Lobbyists
"Debbie Lesko, the Republican candidate for Tuesday’s special election to Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, cut her teeth in the state legislature, where she has long served as the point person for corporate lobbyists to shape public policy. Lesko’s work attending to corporate interests was mainly carried out through her position as a senior member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC. [...] State legislative records show that Lesko, a board member of ALEC, routinely sponsored ALEC model bills, often without changing more than a few words."
Apr. 19, 2018
Man With ALS Takes Down Debbie Lesko
Apr. 16, 2018
Is Washington Ready For Another Betsy DeVos?
"Republican Debbie Lesko is Arizona’s crusader for conservative “school choice”—and, unless Democrats can stop her in April's special election, she’s about to go national."
Mar. 28, 2018
Trump Unity Rally - MAGA In The Park
Mar. 10, 2018
GOP Primary Winner, Debbie Lesko, Faces 2nd Federal Election Law Complaint
Mar. 2, 2018
Debbie Lesko Accused Of Moving $50K From Campaign To A PAC That Backs ... Lesko
Feb. 21, 2018
Debbie Lesko Ponders Sneak Attack On Voucher Referendum
Jul. 18, 2017
Bipartisan Group Forms To Fight Lesko’s ESA Expansion
May, 9, 2017
Arizona Legislature Sneaks More Attacks On Citizens' Rights
Apr. 11, 2017
Arizona Lawmakers Who'll Make Your Jaw Drop
Mar. 30, 2017
Roberts: Commence Phase 2 Of Operation Silence Our Citizens
Mar. 27, 2017
Lesko's Alternative Facts About Vouchers Are Exposed
Feb. 15, 2017
Roll Call: Who Supported Expanding Dark Money In Arizona?
Jul. 15. 2016
How The Arizona Corporation Commission Turned Anti-Solar In Just A Few Years
Jul. 8, 2016
Lawmaker Vies To Block Power Initiative
Apr. 21, 2016
The Truth vs. Debbie Lesko
Nov. 3, 2014
After Failing To Pass Anti-Gay Bill, Arizona Turns Its Attention To Attacking Abortion Rights
Feb. 28, 2014

PLEASE NOTE:  A "Yes" vote would allow ranch dogs to be neglected or abandoned, killed and tortured. It would allow the owner of a ranch dog to inflict unnecessary injury to the animal and not provide medical attention.

New Report Exposes Extreme ALEC Agenda In Arizona
Apr. 4, 2013

"Sleight of Hands" Arizona LD 21

 
Sep. 26, 2012
Sponsor Of 'Show Your Boss Your Whore Pills' Bill Hijacks Mic At Press Conference, Calls Everyone Liars
Mar. 22, 2012
Debbie Lesko's Freedom-Hating Anti-Birth-Control Bill
Mar. 16, 2012
Humpday Hall Of Shame: Arizona State Representative Debbie Lesko
Aug. 10, 2011

  

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