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Line 36: \| children = 3 \| education = [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] ([[Bachelor of Arts\|BA]]) \| website = {{~~url~~URL\|lesko.house.gov\|House website}} \| caption = Official portrait, 2022 \| module = {{Listen\|pos=center\|embed=yes\|filename=Debbie Lesko honors Sandra Day O'Connor.ogg\|title=Debbie Lesko's voice\|type=speech\|description=Debbie Lesko honors [[Sandra Day O'Connor]]<br />Recorded December 12, 2023}} }} '''Debra Kay Lesko''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|l\|ɛ\|s\|k\|oʊ}} {{Respell\|LESS\|koh}}; née '''Lorenz'''; born November 14, 1958) is an American politician ~~and~~who ahas ~~[[Republican~~represented ~~Party (United States)~~{{ushr\|~~Republican]]~~AZ\|8}} ~~member of~~in the [[United States House of Representatives\|U.S. House of Representatives]]~~, representing {{ushr\|AZ\|8}}~~ since 2018. The district is in the [[West Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area)\|West Valley]] portion of the [[Phoenix metropolitan area]] and includes [[Glendale, Arizona\|Glendale]], [[Surprise, Arizona\|Surprise]], [[Sun City, Arizona\|Sun City]], [[Peoria, Arizona\|Peoria]], and part of western Phoenix. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican Party]], Lesko previously served in the [[Arizona State Legislature]] from 2009 to 2018. Lesko served in the [[Arizona Senate]] from 2015 to 2018. She was [[president pro tempore]] of the Arizona Senate from 2017 to 2018.<ref name="AL">{{cite web \|url=http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=21&Legislature=52&Session_ID=115 \|title=Debbie Lesko \|publisher=[[Arizona State Legislature]] \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|access-date= January 2, 2014 \|archive-date=March 5, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305151218/http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=21&Legislature=52&Session_ID=115 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election\|2018 special election]].<ref name="AZC1">{{cite web\|first1=Ronald J.\|last1=Hansen\|first2=Yvonne\|last2=Wingett-Sanchez\|first3=Dan\|last3=Nowicki\|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/12/07/trent-franks-said-stepping-down-congress/932052001/\|title=Trent Franks stepping down from Congress amid complaints from 2 former female staffers\|newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]]\|date=December 12, 2017}}</ref> In October 2023, Lesko announced she would not seek reelection in [[2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8\|2024]].<ref name="Politico">{{cite web\|first1=Katherine \|last1=Tully-McManus\|url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/17/congress/lesko-retiring-house-arizona-00122090\|title=Debbie Lesko will not run for reelection in 2024\|newspaper=[[Politico]]\|date=October 17, 2023}}</ref> She later announced a run for the [[Maricopa County, Arizona\|Maricopa County]] Board of Supervisors, representing District 4.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://ktar.com/story/5563169/u-s-rep-debbie-lesko-files-to-run-for-the-maricopa-county-board-of-supervisors/\|title=Rep. Debbie Lesko files for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors\|date=February 19, 2024\|website=KTAR.com}}</ref> ==Early life and education== Lesko was born in [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin]]. Her parents are ~~Delores~~Donald and ~~Don~~Delores Lorenz. She received a bachelor's degree in business from the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]] and moved to Arizona in the 1980s, where she owned a construction sales business.<ref name="Giroux">{{cite web\|first=Greg\|last=Giroux\|url=https://about.bgov.com/blog/ready-congress-meet-rep-elect-debbie-lesko-r-ariz/\|title=Ready for Congress: Meet Rep.-Elect Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz.\|website=about.bgov.com\|date=June 22, 2023 }}</ref> In 1985, she married Jeffrey Allen Ignas. ===Legal issues=== {{Tone\|section\|date=August 2022}} In 1988, Lesko was charged with a [[misdemeanor]] in [[Conroe, Texas]], for tampering with government records. The case was dropped in 1994. Also in 1988, Lesko's then-husband Jeffrey Allen Ignas was sentenced to 10 years in prison for [[fraud]]. He was released from prison in 1992. In October 1992, Lesko and Ignas filed for [[Chapter 13]] [[bankruptcy protection]]. The couple was sued twice in 1993: for failure to pay a $10,000 rental equipment bill and for an additional unpaid $11,000 bill. They filed for bankruptcy again that year. Line 59 ⟶ 62: ==Early career== {{Expand section\|information about Arizona Legislature.\|date=January 2021}} In the early 2000s, Lesko became involved in the [[Peoria Unified School District]] where she served on the district's community committee. In 2006, she ran for school board. Lesko was endorsed by U.S. Representative [[Trent Franks]]. She placed fourth out of five candidates. She participated in school board meetings and was a contributor to ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''. Her contributions to the newspaper included opinion pieces about illegal immigration and domestic violence.<ref name="Hansen" />▼ ▲In the early 2000s, Lesko became involved in the [[Peoria Unified School District]] where she served on the district's community committee. In 2006, she ran for school board. Lesko was endorsed by U.S. Representative [[Trent Franks]]. She placed fourth out of five candidates. She participated in school board meetings and was a contributor to ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''. Her contributions to the newspaper included opinion pieces about [[illegal immigration]] and domestic violence.<ref name="Hansen" /> On November 4, 2008, Lesko was elected to the [[Arizona House of Representatives]]. She was reelected in 2010 and 2012.<ref name="ballotpedia.org">{{cite web \| url=https://ballotpedia.org/Debbie_Lesko \| title=Debbie Lesko }}</ref>▼ ▲On November 4, 2008, Lesko was elected to the [[Arizona House of Representatives]]. She was reelected in 2010 and 2012.<ref name="ballotpedia.org">{{cite web \| url=https://ballotpedia.org/Debbie_Lesko \| title=Debbie Lesko }}</ref> In 2014, Lesko was elected to the [[Arizona Senate\|Arizona State Senate]]. She was endorsed by the Arizona Police Association, AZ Right to Life, and the [[Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce]]. She ran unopposed in the Republican primary and defeated Democratic nominee [[Carolyn Vasko]] in the general election. In 2016, she ran unopposed in the primary and general election.<ref name="ballotpedia.org"/> Line 70 ⟶ 74: ====2018 special election==== {{main\|2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election}} On December 20, 2017, Lesko announced she would run in the special election to replace Representative [[Trent Franks]], who resigned amid allegations of [[sexual harassment]]. Her state senate district included the bulk of the congressional district. She also announced ~~that~~ her resignation from the Arizona Senate.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/12/20/debbie-lesko-officially-running-congress-trent-franks-seat/969553001/\|title=Debbie Lesko is officially running for Congress for Trent Franks' seat\|first1=Ronald J.\|last1=Hansen\|publisher=[[The Arizona Republic]]\|date=December 20, 2017}}</ref> Although Arizona's [[resign-to-run laws]] allowed her to remain in the state senate since she was running in a special election (and she was in the final year of her term in any event), she resigned on January 8, 2018.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://ktar.com/story/1896036/debbie-lesko-resigns-arizona-senate-focus-congress-run/\|title=Debbie Lesko resigns from Arizona Senate to focus on Congress run\|publisher=[[KTAR-FM]]\|date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> Lesko won the Republican nomination and faced the Democratic nominee, physician [[Hiral Tipirneni]], in the special general election on April 24.<ref>Matthew Bloch & Jasmine C. Lee, [https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/arizona-house-special-election-primary Arizona Special Primary Election Results: Eighth House District] (February 28, 2018).</ref> She was endorsed by [[President of the United States\|President]] [[Donald Trump]], who said that Lesko was a "conservative Republican".<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/18/politics/democrats-arizona-special-election-november/index.html\|title=Democrats aren't expecting an Arizona miracle, but their eyes are on November\|first=Dan \|last=Merica\|work=CNN\|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref> She won the ~~election~~special ongeneral ~~April 24~~election, with 52.6% of the vote to Tipirneni's 47.4.<ref name=":3">{{cite news\|last=Martin\|first=Jonathan\|date=April 24, 2018\|title=Debbie Lesko Wins Arizona Special Election for Congress, Rallying G.O.P.\|work=The New York Times\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/us/politics/debbie-lesko-arizona-congress.html\|access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> The win was by a narrower margin than expected,<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://yourvalley.net/yourvalley/news/state/republican-wins-us-house-race-in-arizona-gop-stronghold/\|title=Republican wins US House race in Arizona GOP stronghold – Your Valley\|date=April 25, 2018\|work=Your Valley\|access-date=April 25, 2018\|language=en-US}}</ref> with observers suggesting that it was indicative of a coming Democratic wave in the 2018 midterm elections.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-arizona-8th-special-election/\|title=Watch The Arizona 8th Special Election Like A Pro\|last=Rakich\|first=Nathaniel\|date=April 23, 2018\|work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]\|access-date=April 25, 2018\|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/25/politics/lesko-wins-but-not-good-gop/index.html\|title=Why the win for Republicans in Arizona 8 is still good for Democrats\|first=Harry \|last=Enten\|work=[[CNN]]\|date= April 25, 2018 \|access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> It was the closest contest in what is now the 8th since 1976, when [[Bob Stump]] won what was then the 3rd District with just 47% of the vote<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30936\|title=Our Campaigns - AZ District 3 Race - Nov 02, 1976\|website=wourcampaigns.com\|access-date=July 11, 2018}}</ref> (the district was renumbered as the 2nd in 2003, and has been the 8th since 2013). According to the Associated Press, the election sent "a big message to Republicans nationwide: Even the reddest of districts in a red state can be in play this year."<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/04/25/us/ap-us-house-arizona-election.html\|title=GOP Unsettled by Narrow Win in US House Race in Arizona\|agency=Associated Press\|date=April 25, 2018\|work=The New York Times\|access-date=April 25, 2018\|language=en-US\|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Line 81 ⟶ 85: {{main\|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}} Lesko defeated Tipirneni again for a full two-year term by a slightly wider margin, taking 55.5% to Tipirneni's 44.5%.<ref>[{{cite web\|url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/results/arizona/house \|title=Arizona 2018 House results~~] from~~ \|work=CNN.com}}</ref> It was still the closest general election in the district in 42 years, and the closest a Democrat had come to winning a full term in the district since Stump switched parties in 1982. In January 2018, Lesko's campaign committee, Re-elect Debbie Lesko for Senate, gave $50,000 to the Conservative Leadership for Arizona, a federal PAC authorized to [[Independent expenditure\|spend independently of other campaigns]]. It was created eight days before taking the money from Lesko's state campaign committee.<ref name="CFC">{{cite web\|last1=Hansen\|first1=Ronald J.\|title=Debbie Lesko accused of moving $50K from campaign to a PAC that backs ... Lesko\|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/02/21/debbie-lesko-accused-moving-50-k-campaign-pac-backs-lesko/361429002\|newspaper=Arizona Republic\|date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> The PAC raised almost no other cash and used the money to support Lesko with yard signs, while her congressional campaign spent heavily on television ads. [[Phil Lovas]], a candidate in the Republican primary, complained to the [[Federal Election Commission]] and Arizona Attorney General alleging multiple violations in February 2018.<ref name="CFC" /> The PAC maneuver also prompted criticism from Lesko's other opponent in the Republican primary, [[Steve Montenegro]].<ref name="CFC" /> In March 2018, the [[Campaign Legal Center]] filed a federal campaign finance law violation complaint against Lesko, alleging that her transfer of $50,000 from her state campaign to an independent group that spent nearly all the cash backing her congressional run was illegal.<ref>{{cite web\|title=GOP primary winner, Debbie Lesko, faces 2nd federal election law complaint\|url=https://www.abc15.com/news/state/gop-primary-winner-debbie-lesko-faces-2nd-federal-election-law-complaint\|agency=Associated Press\|date=March 2, 2018}}</ref> Line 103 ⟶ 107: === Committee assignments === For the [[118th United States Congress\|118th Congress]]:<ref>{{cite web \|title=Debbie Lesko \|url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/L000589 \|publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives \|access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref> * ~~'''~~[[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce\|Committee on Energy and Commerce]]~~'''~~ [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security\|Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security]] [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce\|Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce]] ** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations\|Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations]] * ~~'''~~[[United States House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic\|Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic]]~~'''~~ === Caucus memberships === Line 125 ⟶ 129: Lesko has been described as a loyal ally of former President [[Donald Trump]].<ref name=":4" /> In December 2019, she voted against [[Impeachment of Donald Trump\|impeaching him]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/donald-trump-has-been-impeached-how-did-arizona-lawmakers-vote-11408758\|title=How Each Arizona Representative Voted on President Donald Trump's Impeachment\|last=Swenson\|first=Ali\|date=December 18, 2019\|website=[[Phoenix New Times]]\|access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref> She said there is "no proof, none, that the president has committed an impeachable offense."<ref>{{Cite web\|first=Kara\|last=Harris\|url=http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report//121919_impeachment_az/\|title=Arizona lawmakers split, as House takes historic vote to impeach Trump\|newspaper=[[Tucson Sentinel]]\|language=en\|date=December 19, 2019\|access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref> In defending Trump, she claimed that he had not asked President of Ukraine [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] to investigate [[Joe Biden]], his opponent in the [[U.S. presidential election, 2020\|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news\|first=Aaron\|last=Blake\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/18/gops-closing-impeachment-argument-denying-basic-facts/\|title=The GOP's closing impeachment argument: Denying basic facts\|date=December 18, 2019\|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In December 2020, Lesko was one of 126 Republican members of the [[United States House of Representatives\|House of Representatives]] to sign an [[amicus brief]] in support of ''[[Texas v. Pennsylvania]]'', a lawsuit filed at the [[Supreme Court of the United States\|United States Supreme Court]] contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Biden defeated Trump.<ref>{{cite web\|last1=Blood\|first1=Michael R.\|last2=Riccardi\|first2=Nicholas\|date=December 5, 2020\|title=Biden officially secures enough electors to become president\|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa\|url-status=live\|access-date=December 12, 2020\|website=[[Associated Press\|AP News]]\|archive-date=December 8, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa}}</ref> The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked [[Standing (law)\|standing]] under [[Article Three of the United States Constitution\|Article III of the Constitution]] to challenge the results of an election held by another state.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Liptak\|first=Adam\|author-link=Adam Liptak\|date=December 11, 2020\|title=Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election\|language=en-US\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html\|access-date=December 12, 2020\|issn=0362-4331\|archive-date=December 11, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1s">{{cite web\|title=Order in Pending Case\|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf\|date=2020-12-11\|publisher=[[Supreme Court of the United States]]\|access-date=December 11, 2020\|archive-date=December 11, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html\|title=Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court\|first=Daniella \|last=Diaz\|work=[[CNN]]\|date=December 10, 2020\|access-date=December 11, 2020\|archive-date=December 12, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html\|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives\|House Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion".<ref>{{Cite news\|last1=Smith\|first1=David\|date=December 12, 2020\|title=Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results\|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/11/supreme-court-rejects-trump-backed-texas-lawsuit-aiming-to-overturn-election-results\|access-date=December 13, 2020\|work=[[The Guardian]]\|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release \|url=https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/121120-3 \|title=Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit \|publisher=Speaker Nancy Pelosi \|date=December 11, 2020 \|access-date=December 13, 2020 \|archive-date=January 9, 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109225746/https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/121120-3 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> Lesko was one of the 139 Republican representatives to [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election\|vote to overturn the results]] of the 2020 presidential election in Congress at the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]].<ref>{{Cite news\|last1=Yourish\|first1=Karen\|last2=Buchanan\|first2=Larry\|last3=Lu\|first3=Denise\|date=January 7, 2021\|title=The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results\|language=en-US\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html\|access-date=January 10, 2021\|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Line 137 ⟶ 141: ===Education=== Lesko favors empowering private schools and [[Charter schools in the United States\|charter schools]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/10/replacing-trent-franks-gop-nervous-even-heavily-republican-arizona-district/500743002/\|title=Replacing Trent Franks: GOP nervous even in heavily Republican Arizona district\|first=Ronald J.\|last=Hansen\|date=April 17, 2018\|work=[[Arizona Republic]]}}</ref> Lesko introduced the [https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/557?s=1&r=21 ''Make Education Local Act'' ''of 2021''] in the 117th Congress. ===Environment and energy=== Lesko [[climate change denial\|rejects]] the ~~[[scientific~~"climate ~~consensus~~change" ontrojan ~~climate~~horse ~~change]]~~for global government, 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news\|first=Joshua\|last=Bowling\|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2018/01/30/west-valley-congressional-candidates-climate-change/1067821001/\|title=Here's where West Valley congressional candidates stand on climate change\|work=[[The Arizona Republic]]\|date=January 30, 2018}}</ref> In 2016, Lesko crafted a measure that would give Arizona utilities the right to charge separate rates for customers who produced their own energy through [[solar panels]] in order to prevent $600 million in subsidies from non-solar customers to solar customers.<ref name="Services">{{Cite news\|url=http://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/measure-allows-utilities-to-charge-separate-rates-for-solar-customers/article_bc26a8f1-7d7d-5bec-904b-9c48ac2ef728.html\|title=Measure allows utilities to charge separate rates for solar customers\|agency=Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services\|work=[[The Arizona Daily Star]]\|date=April 27, 2016\|access-date=April 22, 2018\|language=en}}</ref> She crafted the measure with the utilities' assistance.<ref name="Services"/> ===Gun policy=== Lesko opposes changes to existing gun laws, saying "I think there's enough laws. The laws need to be enforced."<ref name=":0" /> She has received an "A" rating from the [[~~National~~NRA ~~Rifle~~Political ~~Association~~Victory Fund]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.nrapvf.org/emails/2018/arizona/debbie-lesko-az-08-general-election-email\|title=Your Freedom is Under Attack! Vote On or Before November 6th!\|website=www.nrapvf.org\|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211021040627/https://www.nrapvf.org/emails/2018/arizona/debbie-lesko-az-08-general-election-email\|archive-date=October 21, 2021\|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Health care=== Line 164 ⟶ 168: ==Personal life== ~~Lesko and her husband, Joe, live in Peoria, Arizona. They have three adult children.~~ Lesko is a [[Baptist]].<ref>{{Cite report \|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/12/PF_2023.01.03_congress_LIST.pdf \|title=Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress \|date=2023-01-03 \|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] \|access-date=2023-04-08}}</ref> Line 171 ⟶ 173: [[File:Debbie Lesko (27816240978).jpg\|right\|thumb\|Debbie Lesko at a campaign event in Peoria, Arizona.]] 2014: Lesko ran for the open Arizona Senate District 21 held by retiring Senator [[Rick Murphy]]. She was unopposed in the Republican primary. Lesko defeated Carolyn Vasko in the general election with 32,119 votes.<ref>{{cite web \|url= http://apps.azsos.gov/election/2014/General/Canvass2014GE.pdf\|title= State of Arizona Official Canvass 2014 General Election November 4, 2014 \|publisher= Secretary of State of Arizona \|location= Phoenix, Arizona \|page= 5 \|access-date= March 18, 2016}}</ref> 2012: Redistricted to District 21 alongside fellow Republican Representative [[Rick Gray (Arizona politician)\|Rick Gray]], and with incumbent Republican Representatives [[Thomas Forese]] and [[J. D. Mesnard]] redistricted to District 17, Lesko ran in the August 28 Republican primary, placing first with 14,771 votes;<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azsos.gov/election/2012/Primary/Canvass.pdf \|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2012 Primary Election August 28, 2012 \|publisher=[[Secretary of State of Arizona]] \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|page=11 \|access-date=January 2, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112230133/http://www.azsos.gov/election/2012/Primary/Canvass.pdf \|archive-date=November 12, 2013 }}</ref> in the five-way November 6 general election, she took the first seat with 41,023 votes and Gray the second, ahead of Democratic nominees Carol Lokare, Sheri Van Horsen and a [[Libertarian Party of Arizona\|Libertarian]] [[write-in candidate]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azsos.gov/election/2012/General/Canvass2012GE.pdf \|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2012 General Election November 6, 2012 \|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|page=12 \|access-date=January 2, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112235642/http://www.azsos.gov/election/2012/General/Canvass2012GE.pdf \|archive-date=November 12, 2013 }}</ref> 2010: With Murphy running for [[Arizona Senate]], leaving a District 9 seat open, Lesko ran in the August 24 Republican primary and placed first with 14,498 votes;<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azsos.gov/election/2010/Primary/Canvass2010PE.pdf \|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2010 Primary Election – August 24, 2010 \|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|page=11 \|access-date=January 2, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214102/http://azsos.gov/election/2010/Primary/Canvass2010PE.pdf \|archive-date=September 20, 2013 }}</ref> in the three-way November 2 general election, she took the first seat with 32,423 votes and Gray took the second, ahead of Democratic nominee Shirley McAllister.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azsos.gov/election/2010/General/Canvass2010GE.pdf \|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2010 General Election – November 2, 2010 \|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|page=8 \|access-date=January 2, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920230737/http://azsos.gov/election/2010/General/Canvass2010GE.pdf \|archive-date=September 20, 2013 }}</ref> 2008: With incumbent state Representative [[Bob Stump (Arizona politician, born 1971)\|Bob Stump]] running for [[Arizona Corporation Commission]] and leaving a District 9 seat open, Murphy and Lesko were unopposed in the September 2 Republican primary; Lesko placed first with 10,902 votes and Murphy placed second;<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Primary/Canvass2008PE.pdf \|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2008 Primary Election – September 2, 2008 \|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|page=8 \|access-date=January 2, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424062550/http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Primary/Canvass2008PE.pdf \|archive-date=April 24, 2009 }}</ref> in the November 4 general election, Lesko took the first seat with 37,762 votes and Murphy the second, ahead of Democratic nominees Van Horsen and Shawn Hutchinson.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/General/Canvass2008GE.pdf \|title=State of Arizona Official Canvass 2008 General Election – November 4, 2008 \|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|page=9 \|access-date=January 2, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219172036/http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/General/Canvass2008GE.pdf \|archive-date=December 19, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Almukhtar">{{Cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/04/24/us/elections/results-arizona-house-special-election.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/04/24/us/elections/results-arizona-house-special-election.html\|title=Arizona Special Election Results: Eighth House District\|last=Almukhtar\|first=Sarah\|date=April 24, 2018\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|access-date=April 26, 2018\|language=en-US\|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> {{Election box begin no change Line 430 ⟶ 432: {{s-prec\|usa}} {{s-bef\|before=[[John Curtis (Utah politician)\|John Curtis]]}} {{s-ttl\|title=[[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives\|United States representatives by seniority]]\|years=~~226th~~217th}} {{s-aft\|after=[[Michael Cloud]]}} {{s-end}} Line 448 ⟶ 450: {{DEFAULTSORT:Lesko, Debbie}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:21st-century American ~~politicians~~legislators]] [[Category:21st-century American women politicians]] [[Category:~~American~~Arizona ~~nationalists~~Republicans]]▼ [[Category:Republican Party Arizona state senators]] [[Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives]] [[Category:Living people]] ▲[[Category:American nationalists]] [[Category:Baptists from Arizona]] [[Category:Baptists from the United States]] Line 462 ⟶ 464: [[Category:Wisconsin School of Business alumni]] [[Category:Women state legislators in Arizona]] [[Category:21st-century Arizona politicians]]