Kevin Payne

  

Updated 04/21/2026
Far-Right MAGA Republican member of the Arizona House of Senate, representing District 27. Payne assumed office on January 13, 2025. His current term ends on January 11, 2027. Payne ran for election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 27. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024. Payne has filed a Statement of Interest with the Arizona Secretary of State and is running for election as State Senator for LD27 in the 2026 election.

-- SUMMATION --
 
During his political career, Arizona State Senator Kevin Payne (R) has frequently supported legislation that critics and LGBTQIA+ advocates describe as negatively impacting the community, particularly transgender and non-binary individuals. His record includes sponsoring or sponsoring or voting in favor of several restrictive measures.  (ref 1)  (ref 2)
 
Sponsored and Co-Sponsored Legislation
 
  • HB 2706 (2020) - Transgender Sports Ban: Payne was a co-sponsor of this bill, which sought to prohibit transgender female students from participating in sports designated for biological females.    (ref 1)  (ref 2)
Key Voting Record on LGBTQ+ Issues
 
Payne has consistently voted in favor of bills that restrict gender-related policies:
 
  • HB 2438 (2025): Voted to prohibit individuals from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates.
  • HB 2062 (2025): Voted for a measure that defines "sex" and "gender" terms across all state laws and policies, effectively codifying biological sex definitions.
  • SB 1003 (2025): Voted to prohibit individuals from using bathrooms or locker rooms that do not align with their biological sex.
  • SB 1165 (2022): Voted for the "Save Women's Sports Act," which banned transgender girls from playing on female sports teams in schools.
  • SB 1001 (2023): Backed a measure that would have prevented educators from using a student's preferred pronouns or transgender name without parental consent (subsequently vetoed).  (ref)
Senator Kevin Payne has supported several additional legislative efforts that impact the LGBTQIA+ community, primarily focusing on gender-affirming healthcare and parental notification requirements:
 
Healthcare Restrictions
 
  • SB 1138 (2022) - Ban on Gender Reassignment Surgery for Minors: Payne voted in favor of this bill, which prohibits physicians from performing irreversible irreversible gender reassignment surgeries on individuals under the age of 18.  (ref)
  • SB 1511 (2024) - Mandated Insurance Coverage for "Detransitioning": Payne supported this measure, which would have required insurance companies that cover gender-transition procedures to also cover medical detransitioning. Critics argued the bill was designed to discourage insurers from providing gender-affirming care altogether; it was vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs in June 2024.  (ref)
Parental Rights and School Disclosures
 
  • HB 2161 (2022) - Parental Rights in Education: Payne supported this bill, which grants parents the right to access all educational and health-related records of their children. LGBTQIA+ advocates expressed concern that this could force teachers to "out" students to their parents regarding their sexual orientation or gender identity without the student's consent.
  • SB 1700 (2023) - Removing Sexually Explicit Books: Payne backed this legislation, which would have allowed parents to request the removal of books from school libraries that they deemed "sexually explicit." Critics contended the bill's broad definitions frequently targeted LGBTQIA+ themed literature (subsequently vetoed).
Administrative and Recognition Limits
 
  • HB 2725 (2021) - Two-Gender Recognition: Payne sponsored this bill, which aimed to require all state and local government forms to coffer only "male" or "female" as options, effectively removing non-binary "X" designations from state-issued identification.
Throughout his political career, Senator Kevin Payne has been involved in several controversies involving public remarks, ethical complaints, and legislative disagreements.
 
2021 Ethics Complaint Regarding Non-Binary Testimony
 
In February 2021, while serving as a State Representative, Payne faced an ethics complaint following a hearing on HB 2725, a bill seeking to restrict gender options on state documents.
 
  • The Allegation: A community activist filed the complaint after Payne was alleged to have asked, "So it doesn't know who it is?" in reference to the non-binary child of a parent who was testifying virtually.  (ref)
  • Payne’s Response: Payne stated he did not recall making the comment, and his spokesperson noted that such words were not audible in the committee hearing's official video.  (ref)
Controversial Remarks on Political Disagreements
 
Payne faced criticism for a press release issued by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission after he and a colleague were accused of joking about shooting someone in the head due to a policy difference. The Commission's chair described the comments as "shameful and disgusting," stating they went far beyond standard political disagreement.

Center for Arizona Policy
A List Of Over 45 Prominent Arizonans Involved In The Jan. 6 Insurrection
"It’s been five years since former President Donald Trump incited an insurrection at the US Capitol in order to remain in office. A lot of Arizonans were involved in this effort on Jan. 6, 2021—from writing legislation to overturn the will of the voters to attending the riot. Some have faced consequences; many are still in positions of power. Here’s a reminder of who they are:"
Jan. 5, 2026
Every name in RED, as of this date, has now voted 3 times in two weeks to keep the 1864 Abortion Ban on the books and the law of Arizona.
Apr. 18, 2024
Election Threat Index
Jan. 5, 2024
 

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

  • Bob Lettieri, Republican

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

In other words, as PROVEN by this bill, Republicans and ammosexuals find it wrong to discriminate against inanimate objects but have no problem discriminating against people.

Source: The Copper Courier
 
Losing Arizona: Is Rep. Kevin Payne An Insurrectionist?
"Payne signed on to a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to accept 11 “alternate” electoral votes for Trump or to have all of the state’s electoral votes “nullified completely until a full forensic audit can be conducted.”
Mar. 10, 2021
GOP Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Eliminate Early Voting List In Arizona Following Democrats' Wins
Jan. 19, 2021

Kevin Payne
  4. Creative Professionals Violating Conscience: Requiring creative professionals (photographer, baker, wedding vendor) to participate in events or create messages that violate their moral or religious beliefs.

(That good old fashioned "Religious Freedom")

 OPPOSE
       
  5. Conscience Rights for Faith-based Organizations: Exempting faith-based organizations from regulations that cause them to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.

(Discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community)

 SUPPORT
       
  8. Women’s Sports: Preventing biological males who identify as female from competing in women’s sports. SUPPORT
       
  9. Parental Rights in Gender Identity Counseling: Allowing parents to get professional counseling for children struggling with gender identity issues to help them reach their desired outcome. SUPPORT
       
  10 (a) Protected Class for Sexual Orientation: Adding “sexual orientation” as a protected class alongside race, religion, sex, age, and disability in nondiscrimination law. OPPOSE
  10 (b) Protected Class for Gender Identity: Adding “gender identity” as a protected class… OPPOSE
       
  14. Medical Rights of Conscience: Allowing health care workers and providers the freedom to practice medicine in accordance with their personal beliefs and conscience. SUPPORT

Source
       

For more information on "The Alliance Defending Freedom"
Az Legislator: 'Can We Virtually Shoot The Head Of Clean Elections?'
May 28, 2019
Dear Sun City Residents: Your Elected Representative Is Lying To You
"Representative Kevin Payne wrote a guest commentary in the Sun City Independent entitled “PCA bill designed to protect Sun City.” [ . . . ] "Representative Kevin Payne writes that Recreation Centers of Sun City’s compliance with the Arizona Planned Community Act would put Sun City’s 55-plus age restriction in jeopardy. This is simply not true. Nothing in the Planned Community Act jeopardizes Sun City’s age restrictions. Every retirement community in Arizona is subject to and complies with the Planned Community Act. They do so without jeopardizing their age-restricted status. The Planned Community Act makes all Sun City owners “members” of the Recreation Centers of Sun City (“RCSC”), with the right to attend and speak at all RCSC board and committee meetings, including closed-door workshop sessions. It also gives every homeowner the right to vote, recall board members, and inspect RCSC’s records. In 2018, the Maricopa County Superior Court determined that RCSC must do these things. ""
Mar. 8, 2019
Battle Lines Drawn In Arizona Gay Discrimination Case
Dec. 24, 2018
Lawmaker Who Wants To Loosen Rules For Food Trucks Owns A Food Truck
Feb. 14, 2018
AZ Bill Lifts Gun Safety Rules For Foster Parents
Feb. 14, 2018
Arizona ALEC Politicians
Oct. 11, 2017
Arizona House OKs Bill Limiting Local Elections To Raise Taxes
Feb. 21, 2017

  
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