List of Arizona State University alumni in government and politics

Arizona State University (ASU) has graduated a number of notable people in government and politics. This includes graduates and non-graduate former students who are notable for their achievements within government and politics, sometimes before or after their time at ASU. Other alumni can be found in the list of Arizona State University alumni and its partial lists.

Federal legislators

Government and politics: Federal legislators

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Andy Biggs	1999 (MA)	U.S. congressman for Arizona, 2017–	[1]
Barry Goldwater Jr.	1962	U.S. congressman for California, 1969–1983	[2]
Abraham Hamadeh	2012	U.S. congressman for Arizona, 2025–	[3][4]
Carl Hayden	1896	U.S. Senator, Arizona's first representative to Congress	[5]
Cecil Heftel	1951	U.S. representative from Hawaii, 1977–1986; founder of Heftel Broadcasting	[6][7]
Roger Jepsen	1950	U.S. senator from Iowa, 1979–1985	[8]
Harry Mitchell	1962	U.S. congressman, state senator, mayor of Tempe	[9]
Ed Pastor	1966	U.S. congressman, Maricopa County supervisor	[10]
Eldon Rudd	1947	U.S. congressman; fighter pilot in World War II	[11]
Matt Salmon	1981	U.S. congressman, Arizona gubernatorial candidate	[12]
David Schweikert	1988	U.S. congressman, state representative	[13]
Kyrsten Sinema	1999 (MSW)	U.S. senator from Arizona	[14]
Bob Stump	1951	U.S. congressman	[10]

Federal: Other

Government: Federal

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Harriet C. Babbitt	1969	First lady of Arizona, U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States	[15]
Barbara Barrett	1972	U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, ambassador to Finland	[16][17][18]
Dan Caldwell	2011	Former senior adviser to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth	[19]
Leah Campos		CIA operative, congressional candidate	[20]
Robert J. Faucher		Foreign service official, U.S. ambassador to Suriname	[21]
Harold Hurtt	1977	Police chief of Houston, worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement	[22][23]
Lynn A. Johnson	(MSW)	Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services	[24]
Tina W. Jonas		Undersecretary of defense at the Department of Defense	[25]
Karen R. Keesling		Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)	[26]
Victor Mendez	1994 (MBA)	Deputy Secretary of Transportation	[27]
Vince Micone	1989	Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor	[28][29]
Leandro Rizzuto Jr.	—	Conair Corporation executive and diplomat (attended)	[30][31][32]
Guy B. Roberts		Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs	[33]
John Rood		Under Secretary of Defense for Policy	[34]
John Sandweg	2002	Acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement	[35][36]
Kyle Randolph Scott	1979	U.S. ambassador to Serbia	[37]
Matthew Scully		Republican speechwriter	[38]

Arizona: Statewide office

Government and politics: Arizona – Statewide office

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Betsey Bayless	1974 (MPA)	Arizona Secretary of State, 1997–2002	[39]
Ken Bennett	1984	Arizona Secretary of State, 2009–2014; state senator	[40]
Susan Bitter Smith	1977	Arizona Corporation Commissioner, 2013–2015	[10][41]
Mark Brnovich		Arizona Attorney General, 2015–2023	[42]
Joe Conway	1918	Arizona Attorney General, 1937–1944	[43]
Doug Ducey	1986	Governor of Arizona, 2015–2023; Arizona State Treasurer; president and CEO of Cold Stone Creamery	[44]
Adrian Fontes		Arizona Secretary of State, 2023–	[45]
Terry Goddard	(JD)	Arizona Attorney General, 2003–2011; mayor of Phoenix, 1984–1990	[46]
Katie Hobbs	(MSW)	Governor of Arizona, 2023–; previously Secretary of State	[47]
Jane Dee Hull	—	Governor of Arizona, 1997–2003; took graduate courses in political science and economics at ASU	[48]
John Huppenthal	(MBA)	Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2011-2015	[49]
Lisa Graham Keegan	(MA)	Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1995–2001	[50]
Sandra Kennedy		Corporation Commissioner, 2009–2013 and 2019–2023; state legislator, 1987–1999	[51]
Eileen Klein	(MPA)	Arizona State Treasurer, 2018–2019	[52]
N. Warner Lee	—	Arizona Attorney General, 1974–1975 (attended)	[53]
Richard Mahoney		Arizona Secretary of State, 1991–1995	[54]
Dean Martin		Arizona State Treasurer, 2007–2011	[55]
Kris Mayes		Arizona Attorney General, Corporation Commissioner	[56]
Evan Mecham		Governor of Arizona, 1987–1988	[57]
Gary K. Nelson	1957	Arizona Attorney General, 1968–1974; appeals court judge, 1974–1978	[10][58]
Justin Olson	2004	Corporation Commissioner, 2017–2023; state legislator, 2011–2017 and 2025–	[59][60]
Anna Tovar		Corporation Commissioner, 2021–2025	[61][62]
Barry Wong		Corporation Commissioner, 2006–2009; state legislator, 1993–2000	[63]
Grant Woods	1979	Attorney General, 1991–1999	[64]
Kimberly Yee	(MPA)	Arizona State Treasurer, 2019–; state senator	[65]

Arizona: Legislature

Government and politics: Arizona Legislature

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Ed Ableser	2000	State senator, 2006–2007 and 2013–2015; state representative, 2007-2013	[66][67]
John Allen		Maricopa County Treasurer; state legislator, 2013–2021	[68]
Lela Alston		State senator, 1977–1995 and 2019–present; representative, 2011–2019	[69]
Nancy Barto		State representative, 2007-2011 and 2019–2021; state senator, 2011–2019 and 2021–2023	[70]
Wenona Benally		State representative, 2017–2019	[71]
Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren	2020 (JD)	State representative, 2021–2023; First Lady of the Navajo Nation	[72]
Seth Blattman		State representative, 2023–present	[73]
Barbara Blewster	1962	State representative, 1999-2001	[74]
Selina Bliss	1984	State representative, 2022–present	[75]
Sean Bowie		State senator, 2017-2023	[76]
Paul Boyer		State representative, 2013–2019; state senator, 2019–2023	[77]
Cloves Campbell Sr.	1958	State representative, 1962–1966; state senator, 1966–1972, first African-American elected to the Arizona Senate	[78][79]
Andrés Cano	2014	State representative, 2019–2023	[80]
Heather Carter		State representative, 2011–2019; state senator, 2019–2021	[81]
Janeen Connolly	(MA)	State representative, 2025–present	[82]
Dean Cooley		State representative, 1997–2003	[83]
Ann Day		State senator, 1991–2001; Pima County supervisor	[84]
Eric Descheenie	2003	State representative, 2017–2019	[85]
Adam Driggs	1993 (JD)	State representative, 2006–2011; state senator, 2011–2017; Maricopa County Superior Court judge	[86]
Brian Fernandez		State representative, 2021–2023; state senator, 2023–present	[87]
Sally Ann Gonzales		State representative, 1997–2001 and 2011–2019; state senator, 2019–present	[88]
Doris Goodale	1971	State representative, 2009-2013; state senator, 2013–2015	[89]
Pamela Gorman	1991	State senator, 2007–2010	[90]
Travis Grantham		State representative, 2017–2025	[91]
Consuelo Hernandez		State representative, 2023–present	[92]
Jake Hoffman	2008	State representative, 2021–2023; state senator, 2023–present	[93]
Marilyn Jarrett	—	State senator, 2001–2006 (attended)	[83][94]
Jennifer Jermaine		State representative, 2019–2023	[95][96]
Mark Killian	1981	State representative, 1983–1997; director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture and member of the Arizona Board of Regents	[97]
William Konopnicki	1968 (MAE)	State representative, 2003–2011	[98]
Lauren Kuby	1992 (MA)	State senator, 2025–present; Tempe city councilmember	[28][99]
Adam Kwasman		State representative, 2013–2015; Scottsdale city councilmember	[100]
Leah Landrum Taylor		State senator, 2007–2015	[101]
David Livingston	1988	State representative, 2013–2019 and 2023–present; state senator, 2013–2019	[102]
Elda Luna-Nájera	(MSW)	State representative, 2024–present	[103]
Lucy Mason	2007	State representative, 2003–2011	[104]
Debbie McCune Davis	1975	State representative, 1979–1995, 2003–2007, 2011–2017; state senator, 2007-2011	[105]
Juan Mendez	2008	State representative, 2013–2015; state senator, 2015–2023	[106]
J. D. Mesnard		State representative, 2011–2019; state senator, 2019–present	[107]
Catherine Miranda	2001	State representative, 2011–2015; state senator; 2015–2019 and 2023–present	[108][109]
Darin Mitchell	1988	State representative, 2013–2019	[110]
Steve Montenegro	2004	State representative, 2009-2017 and 2023–present; state senator, 2017	[111]
Tony Navarrete		State representative, 2017–2021	[95][112]
Analise Ortiz	2014	State representative, 2023–2025; state senator, 2025–present	[80]
Tyler Pace		State senator, 2019–2023	[113]
Justin Pierce	2000	State representative, 2011–2015	[114]
Celeste Plumlee	(MSW, MPA)	State representative, 2015–2017	[115]
Martín Quezada	2001	State representative, 2012–2015; state senator, 2015–2023	[116]
Marcelino Quiñonez		State representative, 2021–2024	[117]
Sterling Ridge	1959	State representative, 1983–1989; newspaper reporter, mayor of Glendale, promoter of ASU's West campus	[118][119]
Pete Rios	1973	State representative, 2005–2009; state senator, 1983–1995, 1997–2005	[120]
Rebecca Rios	1989	State representative, 1995–2001 and 2015–2019; state senator, 2005–2011 and 2019–2023	[95][121]
Tony Rivero	2004	State representative, 2015–2021 and 2025–present	[122]
Athena Salman	2011	State representative, 2017-2023	[123][124]
David Schapira		State representative, 2007–2011; state senator, 2011–2013	[125]
Kiana Sears	(BA, MPA)	State senator, 2025–present	[126][127]
Janae Shamp		State senator, 2023–present	[128]
Andrew Sherwood		State representative, 2013–2015; state senator, 2015–2017	[129]
T. J. Shope	2008	State representative, 2013–2021; state senator, 2021–present	[130]
Lorenzo Sierra		State representative, 2019–2023	[131]
Don Strauch	—	Mayor of Mesa, 1980–1984; state representative, 1987–1988 (attended)	[132][133]
David Stringer	2018	State representative, 2017-2019	[134]
Jay Tibshraeny	1977	State senator, 2003–2010; mayor of Chandler	[135]
Kelly Townsend	2012	State representative, 2013–2021; state senator, 2021–2023	[136]
Michelle Ugenti-Rita	2003	Arizona state senator and representative	[137]
Jim Waring	1992 (MA)	State senator, 2003–2010; Phoenix city councilmember	[138]
Justin Wilmeth	2013	State representative, 2021–present	[139][140]
Steve Yarbrough	1968	State representative, 2003–2011; state senator, 2011–2019	[141]

Arizona: Other

Government and politics: Arizona – Other

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Allister Adel	2004 (JD)	Maricopa County Attorney, 2019–2022	[142][143]
Yolanda Bejarano		Union organizer and chair of the Arizona Democratic Party	[144][145]
Allie Bones	2001 (MSW)	Social worker, chief of staff to Governor Katie Hobbs	[146]
Harry Braun	1971	Perennial political candidate	[147]
Angela Ducey		First Lady of Arizona	[148]
David Garcia	1993	2018 Arizona gubernatorial candidate	[149][150]
John Giles	1987 (JD)	Mayor of Mesa, 2017–2025	[151]
Calvin C. Goode	1949	Phoenix city councilman, 1972–1994	[152]
Phil Gordon	1978 (JD)	Mayor of Phoenix, 2004–2012	[153]
Robert Graham		Chair of the Arizona Republican Party, 2013-2017	[154][155]
Chad Heywood		Executive director of the Arizona Republican Party	[156][157]
Rachel Mitchell	1992 (JD)	Maricopa County Attorney, 2022–present	[158][159]
Len Munsil	1985	Founding president of the Center for Arizona Policy and president of Arizona Christian University; 2006 Arizona gubernatorial candidate	[160][161]
Tony Nelssen	1973	Scottsdale city councilman, 2006–2010	[162][163]
Billie Orr	1970	Education activist and Prescott city councilmember, 2015–2021	[164]
Coy Payne	—	First African-American mayor of Chandler (attended)	[165]
Lincoln Ragsdale	1953	Tuskegee Airman and civil rights activist	[166][167]
Karrin Taylor Robson	1988	Member of the Arizona Board of Regents	[10]
Rick Romley	1974	Maricopa County Attorney	[168]
Dan Saban	1991	Police chief of Buckeye	[169]
Scott Smith	1985 (MBA)	Mayor of Mesa, 2009–2014	[170][171]
Gina Swoboda		Chair of the Arizona Republican Party, 2024–	[172][173]
Corey Woods	2018	Mayor of Tempe, 2020–	[174][175]

Non-Arizona

Government and politics: Non-Arizona

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Anabel Abarca	(MPA)	Chicago alderperson	[176]
Mike Aguirre		San Diego City Attorney	[177]
Paul Aizley	(PhD)	Member of the Nevada Assembly	[178]
Shea Backus	2003 (JD)	Member of the Nevada Assembly	[179]
Brian Barnwell		Member of the New York State Assembly	[180]
Jackie Biskupski		Mayor of Salt Lake City and member of the Utah House of Representatives	[181]
Bruce Blakeman		Nassau County, New York, Executive	[182]
Andrew Chesney		Member of the Illinois Senate	[183]
Tarryl Clark	(MAE)	Member of the Minnesota Senate	[184]
Alex Dominguez	1993	Member of the Texas House of Representatives	[185]
Reagan Dunn		Prosecutor; member of the King County Council in Washington state	[186]
Daymon Ely	1982 (JD)	Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives	[187][188]
Steve Fitzpatrick	2004 (JD)	Member of the Montana House of Representatives and Montana Senate	[189]
Dan Gehlbach	(MA)	Member of the Iowa House of Representatives	[190]
Peggy Gibson	—	Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives (attended)	[191]
Christina Haswood		Member of the Kansas House of Representatives	[192]
Scott Herndon	1989	Member of the Idaho Senate	[193]
Verdell Jackson		Member of the Montana House of Representatives	[194]
Lon Johnson		Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party	[195]
Peter Johnson	(MA)	Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives	[196]
Steve T. Kirby	1974	Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota	[197]
Paul Lefebvre	(MA)	Member of the Vermont House of Representatives	[198]
John Howard Lindauer	1960	Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage; broadcaster and publisher; member of the Alaska House of Representatives, 1983–1985; 1998 Alaska gubernatorial candidate	[199][200]
Lewis Marquardt		Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and professor of humanities at ASU and Texas State University	[201]
Maurice J. McCauley	(MA)	Member of the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives	[202]
Steve McClure		Member of the Illinois Senate	[203]
Steven McLaughlin	—	Rensselaer County, New York, Executive and member of the New York State Assembly (attended)	[204]
Jonathan McNiven		Member of the Montana House of Representatives	[205]
Mike Montandon		Mayor of North Las Vegas, Nevada	[206]
Suzanne Ness		Member of the Illinois House of Representatives	[207]
Stephan Pappas	1978	Member of the Wyoming State Senate	[208]
Joe Rogers	(JD)	Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, 1999-2003	[209]
Hillary Schieve	—	Mayor of Reno, Nevada (attended)	[210]
Nora Slawik	1984	Mayor of Maplewood, Minnesota	[95]
Lois Snowe-Mello		Member of the Maine Senate	[211]
Ben Stevens		Member of the Alaska Senate	[212]
Don Tracy		Chair of the Illinois Republican Party and Illinois Gaming Board	[213]
Jarom Wagoner		Mayor of Caldwell, Idaho, and member of the Idaho House of Representatives	[214]
Jeannette Wallace		Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives	[215]
Dan Woog		Member of the Colorado House of Representatives	[216]

Tribal

Government and politics: Tribal

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Eugenia Charles-Newton		Member of the Navajo Nation Council	[217]
Crystalyne Curley		Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council	[218][219]
Albert Hale		President of the Navajo Nation, 1995–1998; member of the Arizona Legislature	[220]
Jay Morago		First governor of the Gila River Indian Community, 1954–1960	[221][222]
Veronica Murdock		Colorado River Indian Tribes leader and first woman president of the National Congress of American Indians	[223][224]
Joe Shirley Jr.	(MSW)	President of the Navajo Nation, 2003-2011	[225][226]
Peterson Zah	1963	President of the Navajo Nation, 1991–1995	[44]

International

Government and politics: International

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Jacinda Ardern	—	Prime minister of New Zealand (attended)	[227]
Maen Rashid Areikat	1983	Chief representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization to Washington, D.C.	[228][229]
Wahome Gakuru	2004 (PhD)	Governor of Nyeri County, Kenya	[230]
Iyad bin Amin Madani	1969	Saudi politician and secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation	[231]
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori	1988	Minister of the Economy of the United Arab Emirates	[10]
Hoyce Temu		Tanzanian diplomat and journalist	[232]
Cem Toker	1982	Former chair of the Liberal Democratic Party of Turkey	[233]

Social activism

Government and politics: Social activism

Name	Class year	Notes	Ref.
Erika Andiola	2009	Mexican-American immigration rights activist	[234]
Steven E. Carr		Only American elected to the Standing Commission of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement	[235]
Tim DeChristopher	—	Climate activist (attended)	[236]
Mary Dent Crisp	1977	Republican politician and women's rights activist	[10][237]
Mary Kaye Huntsman		First Lady of Utah, activist (attended)	[238]
Shaun King	2018 (MA)	Author, civil rights activist	[239][240]
William W. McDonald	1975	Conservationist	[241]
Elad Nehorai		Orthodox Jewish writer and activist	[242]
Ayọ Tometi	2010 (MA)	Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement	[44]
María Urquides	1928	Bilingual education advocate; earned teacher's certificate	[243]

Notes