Contact Information
Candidate Background
Candidacy
Undergraduate education: Brigham Young University
Graduate education: Brigham Young University
Jeff Flake was born and raised on a ranch in Snowflake, Ariz., a town named, in part, after Flake's great-great grandfather. He currently lives in Mesa, Ariz. He graduated with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Brigham Young University.
Flake was the fifth of 11 children, raised in a strict Mormon household. Before attending Brigham Young University, Flake served a Mormon mission in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
He was elected to the U.S. House in 2000.
He and his wife, Cheryl, have five children.
Profile
Jeff Flake continues to push immigration reform and border security, federal spending and earmark reform and pro-business tax policies in 2010.
Flake applauded in April 2009 the Barack Obama administration's decision to lift a ban on travel and remittances to Cuba. He believes easing U.S.-imposed restrictions is the best way to expedite democratic reforms in the island nation.
The conservative westerner has shown since his first term that he is not afraid to disagree with the administration. Despite President George W. Bush's threat to veto an $89.3 million spending bill, Flake joined other House members in easing restrictions on travel between Cuba and the U.S.
Flake and Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois introduced legislation in 2007 to revamp the nation's immigration system. The proposed Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act, or STRIVE Act, touched on border security, employment verification and an earned legalization program for the undocumented.
Working toward immigration reform, Flake had previously sided with Sen. John McCain in supporting a guest worker program. Flake re-introduced a House bill along with fellow Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe in 2005 that would allow undocumented immigrants to temporarily work in the U.S.
He is also a staunch opponent of abortion. He backed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2003. He also supported the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, making the killing of a fetus, as the result of harming a pregnant woman, a separate crime. Former President Bush signed the bill into law in 2004.
Flake has also pushed for increased accountability of earmarks, or home-district "pork projects." He has cited the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and the National Wild Turkey Federation as examples of unnecessary projects.
Several organizations asked Flake in 2003 to run against McCain for the Senate seat, but Flake declined.
Flake made news outside of Congress in August 2009 when he spent a week alone on a deserted South Pacific island to fulfill a boyhood dream.
Campaigns
Jeff Flake is running against Democrat Rebecca Schneider in the November 2010 election. Schneider is a college librarian who challenged Flake in 2008, but lost the election.
Flake was first elected in 2000. He defeated Democrat David Mendoza, winning with 53 percent of the vote.
Flake defeated Democratic candidate Deborah Thomas in 2002, winning 64 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2004, defeating Libertarian candidate Craig Stritar with 79 percent of the vote.
Flake defeated Libertarian challenger Jason Blair in 2006 with an overwhelming 75 percent of the vote.
Flake easily won a fifth term as representative of Arizona's 6th District in the 2008 election. He faced Schneider, winning re-election with 62 percent of the vote.
(Last updated by Bob Christie on September 2, 2010.)
