THE ARIZONA STATE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

John is originally from New York. He earned his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from New York University, his master's degree in government from St. John's University, and his doctorate degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University. John and his wife, Linda, have two sons and live together in Fountain Hills.

John works as a professor of criminal justice and the director of the Administration of Justice Studies and Forensic Science Program at Scottsdale Community College. He previously taught at Arizona State University and served as an officer and detective sergeant with the Port Authority of New York and the New Jersey Police Department.

Ballotpedia

Arizona State Legislature

John Kavanagh currently serves as the state senator for District 3. He was first elected in 2022 and is serving his first term. He is the chair of the Government Elections Committee and the vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee. Kavanagh previously served as the state representative for District 23 from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022. He has also previously served as a state senator, a town councilman in Fountain Hills, and a town councilman in Lafayette, New Jersey.

Twitter

Supports Senate Bill 1063 (SB1063), which would ban cities and towns from imposing sales taxes on food.

- Supports Senate Bill 1063 (SB1063), which would ban cities and towns from imposing sales taxes on food.

Economy

Supports Senate Bill 1231 (SB1231), which would give local police authority to arrest any non-U.S. citizen who enters Arizona from anywhere but a lawful port of entry.

- Supports Senate Bill 1231 (SB1231), which would give local police authority to arrest any non-U.S. citizen who enters Arizona from anywhere but a lawful port of entry.

Public Safety

JOHN KAVANAGH'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS RECORD

Co-sponsored Senate Bill 1164 (SB1164), which bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest.

- Opposes abortion.
- Co-sponsored Senate Bill 1164 (SB1164), which bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Healthcare

You can hate Arizona Sen. John Kavanagh, but he's right about schools and pronouns

Hobbs puts the brakes on Senate’s most prolific bill sponsor 

Introduced Senate Bill 1001 (SB1001), which would prohibit public school officials from referring to a student under age 18 by a first name or pronoun that doesn’t “align” with “the student’s biological sex” unless they have written permission from the parent.

Introduced Senate Bill 1040 (SB1040), which would impose legal risk on schools that do not require transgender students to use separate bathroom, shower, and locker room accommodations.

- Introduced Senate Bill 1001 (SB1001), which would prohibit public school officials from referring to a student under age 18 by a first name or pronoun that doesn’t “align” with “the student’s biological sex” unless they have written permission from the parent.
- Introduced Senate Bill 1040 (SB1040), which would impose legal risk on schools that do not require transgender students to use separate bathroom, shower, and locker room accommodations.

Education

As of June 7, 2025, John Kavanagh’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Endorsed by National Federation of Independent Business.

Endorsed by Phoenix Law Enforcement Association

- Endorsed by former sheriff Joe Arpaio.
- Endorsed by Arizona Police Association.
- Endorsed by Center for Arizona Policy.
- Endorsed by Arizona Chamber of Commerce.
- Endorsed by National Federation of Independent Business.
- Endorsed by Stand for Health Freedom.
- Endorsed by Phoenix Law Enforcement Association

Endorsements

Facebook

John Kavanagh

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Arizona State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Arizona Legislature. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State senators are involved in approving some appointments by the governor.
- There are 30 Arizona senators, each representing a single district.
- State senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $24,000.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Arizona Senate.

Arizona State Senator, District 3, Republican Primary

Election results

Candidates (1)