John Kavanagh
Arizona State Senator, District 3 since 2014. Ran in 11 elections between 2006 and 2024, winning 11. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
Arizona State Senator, District 3Born 1950
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 35
- 135 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 2.6%
- Chamber median 3.3%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +21.8
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations, Transportation and Technology · vice chair
- Capital Review · chair
- Judiciary and Elections · vice chair
- Legislative Budget · chair
- Director Nominations
- Government
- Legislative Council
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Kavanagh sits in the Arizona State Senate
Kavanagh is closer to the center than 71% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Vince Leach, Tim Dunn, T.J. Shope
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:45 PM ET
With Kavanagh’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans99%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills16%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Arizona State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Kavanagh’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Kavanagh | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | HB 2800: ignition interlock devices; violation; classification | No | No | Yes | Passed 17–12 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | HB 2305: private towing carriers; regulation; rates | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 13–14 |
| Jun 9, 2026 | HB 2611: group homes; safety; training; rights | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 17–12 |
| Mar 9, 2026 | HB 2993: DPS; legal representation; appropriation | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 16–13 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | SB 1627: schools; prohibition; unmanned aircraft | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 16–13 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Kavanagh was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Arizona State Senate, District 3 | Won | R+21.8 | R+24.7 | −2.9 |
| 2024 | Arizona State Senate, District 3 | Won | — | R+24.7 | — |
| 2022 | Arizona State Senate, District 3 | Won | R+26.4 | R+21.1 | +5.3 |
| 2020 | Arizona House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | R+2.6 | — | — |
| 2018 | Arizona House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | R+3.3 | — | — |
| 2016 | Arizona State Senate, District 23 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Arizona State Senate, District 23 | Won | R+25.0 | — | — |
| 2014 | Arizona State Senate, District 23 (primary) | Won | +6.7 | — | — |
| 2012 | Arizona House of Representatives, District 23 | Won | R+1.3 | — | — |
| 2010 | Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | R+4.4 | — | — |
| 2008 | Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+3.0 | — | — |
| 2006 | Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+4.0 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Arizona Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $154.4K
- Spent
- $84.9K
- Cash
- $69.6K
Source: Arizona Secretary of State filings through Sep 25, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:20 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| John Kavanagh for State Senator 2026 - District No. 3 State | Active |
Source: Arizona Secretary of State filings through Sep 25, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:20 PM ET
Seats Kavanagh has held
- Arizona State Senate, District 3 · since 2022
- Arizona House of Representatives, District 23 · 2018–2022
- Arizona State Senate, District 23 · since 2014
- Arizona House of Representatives, District 23 · 2012–2014
- Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 · 2006–2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Kavanagh has run against
- Jeff Fortney (D) · 2026 election, won
- Thomas Dugger (D) · 2022 election, won
- Joseph Chaplik (R) · 2020 election, won
- Jay Lawrence (R) · 2018 election, won
- Paula Pennypacker (D) · 2014 election, won
- Michelle Ugenti (R) · 2012 election, won
- Michele Reagan (R) · 2008 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Arizona Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Kavanagh
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/b6144266-5383-491f-8c87-df8fd11805ea
- Wikidata Q16730658
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET