David Schweikert

David Schweikert
Born	David Sheridan Schweikert 3 3, 1962
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative from Arizona, Chair of the Joint Economic Committee
Education	Arizona State University (BS, MBA)
Children	2
Website	[[schweikert.house.gov schweikert.house.gov] Official site]

David Sheridan Schweikert (born March 3, 1962) is an American politician and businessman who has served as the U.S. representative from Arizona since January 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he currently represents Arizona's 1st congressional district, a seat he has held since 2023 after redistricting. He previously represented the state's 5th congressional district (2011–2013) and 6th congressional district (2013–2023). His district encompasses most of northern Phoenix as well as Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek. Since January 2025, Schweikert has served as Chair of the Joint Economic Committee. Before entering federal office, Schweikert served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995, chaired the Arizona State Board of Equalization from 1995 to 2004, and served as Maricopa County Treasurer from 2004 to 2007. In September 2025, Schweikert announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress and would instead run for the Republican nomination in the 2026 Arizona gubernatorial election.

Early Life

David Sheridan Schweikert was born on March 3, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, where he would eventually build his political career. Details regarding his parents and family background during his childhood years are limited in publicly available records. Schweikert was raised in the Scottsdale area and became involved in Arizona civic and political life at a relatively young age, eventually entering the state legislature while still in his late twenties.

Education

Schweikert attended Scottsdale Community College before transferring to Arizona State University in Tempe, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently returned to Arizona State University to complete a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His business education informed much of his later policy focus on fiscal issues, taxation, and economic matters during his career in both state and federal government.

Career

Arizona State Legislature and Early Political Career

Schweikert began his political career in 1991 when he was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, where he represented the 28th district alongside Lisa Graham Keegan. He served in the state house until January 1995, a period during which he gained experience in state-level fiscal policy and governance. His predecessors in the district were Heinz Hink and Jim Skelly, and he was succeeded by Carolyn Allen and Wes Marsh.

Following his tenure in the state legislature, Schweikert was appointed to serve as chairman of the Arizona State Board of Equalization, a position he held from 1995 to 2004. The Board of Equalization is responsible for overseeing property tax assessments and ensuring equitable taxation across the state. This nearly decade-long tenure further established Schweikert's expertise in tax policy and public finance.

In 2004, Schweikert was elected as the Maricopa County Treasurer, a position he held until 2007. As treasurer of the most populous county in Arizona, Schweikert was responsible for overseeing the collection and management of county funds, investment of public monies, and property tax collection. This role provided him with executive-level experience in managing a large government financial operation.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

In 2010, Schweikert ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's 5th congressional district, challenging incumbent Democratic Representative Harry Mitchell. Schweikert won the general election, and he took office on January 3, 2011. Following the 2010 redistricting cycle, Schweikert's district was redrawn, and he began representing Arizona's 6th congressional district starting in 2013. After further redistricting following the 2020 Census, he moved to represent the newly redrawn 1st congressional district beginning in 2023.

Fiscal and Economic Policy

Throughout his congressional tenure, Schweikert has focused heavily on fiscal policy, tax reform, and economic issues. He has positioned himself as a fiscal conservative, frequently advocating for reduced government spending and lower taxes. In March 2015, Schweikert was among the Republican members who opposed the GOP budget proposal, signaling his willingness to break with party leadership on fiscal matters when he deemed spending levels insufficient in their reductions.

In 2015, Schweikert was among 28 Republican members of Congress who pledged to oppose any spending bill that included funding for Planned Parenthood. This position aligned Schweikert with the conservative wing of the Republican caucus, including members affiliated with the Freedom Caucus, who sought to use the appropriations process to advance conservative policy goals.

Schweikert also engaged with debates over the debt ceiling during his time in Congress. The issue of raising the federal debt limit became a recurring point of contention between congressional Republicans and the executive branch.

Financial Regulation

Schweikert has been a vocal critic of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In a 2012 commentary published in Human Events, he argued that the legislation, enacted three years earlier in response to the 2008 financial crisis, had failed to achieve its goals and that a new policy approach was needed. He contended that the regulatory framework imposed by Dodd-Frank was overly burdensome and hindered economic growth.

Foreign Policy and National Security

In 2015, Schweikert opposed the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated by the Obama administration. He wrote an op-ed for The Arizona Republic in which he characterized the agreement as a mistake that Congress should reject. He joined other Arizona Republicans in criticizing the deal, arguing that it did not adequately prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

On the issue of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Schweikert was among Arizona officials who responded to proposals to close the facility. In 2016, Cronkite News reported on the reactions of Arizona lawmakers, including Schweikert, to the debate over the future of the detention center.

Gun Policy

Schweikert's positions on gun legislation reflected his conservative approach to Second Amendment issues. In early 2016, The Washington Post reported on congressional considerations regarding gun legislation, in which Schweikert's voting record was noted. Following the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, the U.S. House considered measures that included rolling back existing gun laws in Washington, D.C., a legislative effort in which Schweikert participated.

Chair of the Joint Economic Committee

In January 2025, Schweikert assumed the chairmanship of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), succeeding Senator Martin Heinrich. The JEC is a bicameral committee of Congress that reviews economic conditions and makes recommendations on economic policy. As chairman, Schweikert has used the platform to advance his views on trade and tax policy.

In February 2026, following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Schweikert issued a statement calling for Congress to enact a border adjustment tax (BAT) as a permanent alternative to executive tariffs. He argued that a legislatively enacted border tax would provide a more constitutionally sound and economically stable mechanism for addressing trade imbalances.

Legislative Work on Water Policy

In January 2026, Schweikert introduced H.R. 7078, the Equal Access to the Colorado River Act, a bill aimed at protecting Arizona's water allocation in future shortages along the Colorado River. The legislation addressed ongoing concerns about water distribution among states that depend on the river, a critical issue for the arid Southwest.

Dean of the Arizona Congressional Delegation

Following the death of Representative Raúl Grijalva on March 13, 2025, Schweikert and Representative Paul Gosar became co-deans of Arizona's congressional delegation, a designation given to the longest-serving members of a state's representation in Congress. Both Schweikert and Gosar had entered Congress in January 2011.

2026 Arizona Gubernatorial Campaign

On September 30, 2025, Schweikert announced that he would forgo seeking reelection to his congressional seat and would instead enter the race for Governor of Arizona in 2026. The decision came as Schweikert sought to transition from federal to state-level executive office, drawing on his experience in Arizona state government and in Congress.

The Republican primary field for the gubernatorial nomination initially included multiple candidates, including fellow U.S. Representative Andy Biggs and businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson. Following Robson's withdrawal from the race, the contest narrowed primarily to a matchup between Schweikert and Biggs, with the primary election scheduled for July 21, 2026.

Media coverage of the primary has drawn distinctions between the two candidates. Cronkite News characterized Schweikert as a "free-market conservative," contrasting his approach with that of Biggs, who received an endorsement from former President Trump. The race has been framed as offering Republican primary voters a choice between different strands of conservatism within the party.

Personal Life

Schweikert was born in Los Angeles, California, but has spent most of his life in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona. He has two children. Schweikert's district has been centered in the affluent communities of the northeastern Phoenix area, including Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek, which he has represented throughout his time in Congress.

In September 2018, Schweikert delivered a tribute to Senator John McCain on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives following McCain's death. In his remarks, Schweikert reflected on what he described as political overcautiousness, drawing on his experiences with the late senator who had represented Arizona for decades.

Recognition

Schweikert's career in elected office has spanned more than three decades, from his initial election to the Arizona House of Representatives in 1990 to his current service in the U.S. Congress. His appointment as Chair of the Joint Economic Committee in January 2025 marked one of the most prominent leadership positions of his congressional career, giving him a platform to shape economic policy discussions at the national level.

His campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission under the designation for Arizona's congressional races document his sustained electoral activity over multiple cycles.

Schweikert's voting record and policy positions have been tracked by organizations such as VoteSmart, which has compiled his positions on a range of legislative issues throughout his congressional tenure.