Vince Leach

Originally from Coloma, Wisconsin, Leach received a bachelor's degree in political science/history from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.[https://www.inmaricopa.com/vince-leach-house-of-representatives-candidate/ Leach looks to take activism to elected office], In Maricopa (July 31, 2014). Leach was a mineral-products salesman in Wisconsin until 2009, when he retired to Arizona.Ray Stern, [https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/on-probation-arizona-lawmaker-wants-to-take-away-medical-cannabis-10015751 On Probation? Arizona Lawmaker Wants to Take Away Your Medical Cannabis], Phoenix New Times (January 8, 2018). He then became a conservative activist and political candidate.

In the November 2014 election for District 11 in the Arizona House of Representatives (Pima and Pinal counties), Leach successfully ran alongside fellow Republican Mark Finchem. Finchem received 36,732 votes and Leach received 34,274 votes, defeating Democratic challenger Holly Lyon, who received 27,392 votes in the general election with 34,274 votes.{{cite web |url= https://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= 9 |access-date= March 18, 2016}} In 2016, Leach and Finchem defeated Democratic candidate Corin Hammond in the general election: Finchem received 52,509 votes, Leach 49,209 votes, and Hammond 42,511 votes.{{Cite web |url=https://www.azsos.gov/sites/azsos.gov/files/2016_1205_official_final_signed_state_canvass_for_2016_gen.pdf |title=State of Arizona Official Canvass: 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016|publisher=Secretary of State of Arizona|location= Phoenix, Arizona|page=16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220203745/https://www.azsos.gov/sites/azsos.gov/files/2016_1205_official_final_signed_state_canvass_for_2016_gen.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |url-status=dead }} In 2018, he was elected to the state Senate from Legislative District 11, a heavily Republican district, and he was reelected in 2020.Raquel Hendrickson, [https://www.inmaricopa.com/mendoza-wins-democratic-primary-in-ld11-senate-race/ Mendoza wins Democratic primary in LD11 Senate race], In Maricopa (August 5, 2020).Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa , [https://www.pinalcentral.com/maricopa_monitor/news/leach-re-elected-in-ld11-senate-race/article_64f07228-8f00-5925-9dcf-190e3f88ffa5.html Leach re-elected in LD11 Senate race], Casa Grande Dispatch (November 9, 2020).

In 2019, Leach voted for a bill expanding so-called "junk" health insurance plans in Arizona that do not protect against pre-existing conditions.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2019/03/12/new-arizona-law-expand-so-called-junk-health-insurance-plans-gov-doug-ducey/3131533002/|title=New Arizona law will expand so-called 'junk' health insurance plans|date=March 12, 2019|first=Stephanie|last=Innes|work=The Arizona Republic}}

Leach criticized Arizona public schoolteachers over the 2018 Arizona teachers' strike and for wearing red shirts to support salary increases. Leach called the "Red for Ed" movement a "political action" and, in 2019, supported a Republican bill to impose fines of up to $5,000 on educators deemed to have attempted to "indoctrinate" students by influencing their political or religious views.Bob Christie, [https://apnews.com/article/bef65b489ae141a7a49a128beef1f2a8 Arizona lawmakers revive teacher penalty proposal], Associated Press (April 3, 2019).

In 2019, Leach sponsored legislation that would give unrestricted power to the Arizona attorney general to rewrite the ballot text of citizen voter initiatives. The bill failed after at least four Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing it.Bob Christie, [https://apnews.com/article/7a1dc6d6fc1443db8846efc289e91fe9 Bill giving attorney general initiative veto in trouble], Associated Press (May 15, 2019). In 2020, Leach sponsored legislation to weaken the 1998 Voter Protection Act, a voter-approved amendment to the Arizona Constitution that barred the legislature from changing initiatives approved by the voters, unless they "further the purpose" of the voter initiatives and obtained a three-quarters supermajority vote of the Legislature. Leach said that he sponsored the Republican-supported measure due to his opposition to the voter-approved initiatives that authorized medical marijuana and raised the state minimum wage to $12. The bill passed a state Senate committee on a party-line vote.Bob Christie, [https://apnews.com/article/24da225a321d184b5822067bbe9ea817 GOP-backed measure weakens Arizona’s Voter Protection Act], Associated Press (February 13, 2020).

Leach sponsored several anti-medical marijuana bills in the state Senate; none advanced.

In 2020, Leach promoted the conspiracy theory QAnon, a radical pro-Trump fringe movement, on social media.{{cite web|author=Josh Kelety|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/qanon-in-arizona-a-guide-praying-medic-justine-wadsack-11489603|title=QAnon in Arizona Politics: A Guide|date=August 25, 2020|work=Phoenix New Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/070720_gop_qanon/two-gop-lawmakers-promote-qanon-social-media/|title=Two GOP lawmakers promote QAnon on social media|newspaper=Arizona Mirror|date=July 7, 2020|author=Jeremy Duda|via=Tucson Sentinel}}Julia Shumway, [https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/09/04/candidates-spread-conspiracy-theory-in-bid-to-be-elected/ Candidates spread conspiracy theory in bid to be elected], Arizona Capitol Times (September 4, 2020). In 2021, Leach supported legislation that made it easier to purge Arizona voters from the early voting list.Jonathan J. Cooper, [https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arizona-race-and-ethnicity-bills-elections-f66f8b032bd081092715f55dc1195134 Arizona makes it easier to purge some from early voting list], Associated Press (May 11, 2021). The bill, signed into law by Republican Governor Doug Ducey, was one of many efforts by Republicans nationwide to restrict voting following Trump's loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.

In 2021, Leach sponsored legislation that would block any Arizona county or municipal government from banning so-called gay "conversion therapy."Joe Dana, [https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/bill-would-prevent-gay-conversion-therapy-bans-in-arizona/75-2b864149-c151-44f9-a3f6-ebffb3f02a3e Bill would prevent gay conversion therapy bans in Arizona], KPNX (February 17, 2021). At the time, 20 states and Pima County, Arizona had enacted such bans.

In 2022, Leach sponsored Arizona legislation to give the legislature the power to overturn election results.{{Cite web|author=Andy Rose and Veronica Stracqualursi|title=Arizona Republican House speaker effectively dooms GOP bill to allow state legislature to reject election results|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/03/politics/arizona-bill-reject-election-results-effectively-blocked/index.html|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=CNN}} He was defeated for reelection in the Republican primary by Justine Wadsack.

In 2024, Leach ran for reelection to the Arizona state senate from Legislative District 17. In the July 2024 Republican primary election, Leach defeated incumbent Senator Justine Wadsack who had defeated him in the 2022 primary. In the November 2024 general election, Leach faced Democratic nominee John McLean.{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Ellie |title=Controversial Tucson-area Sen. Justine Wadsack loses primary |url=https://tucson.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/arizona-legislature-gop-primary-vince-leach-defeats-sen-justine-wadsack-tucson/article_3f1d7cca-5039-11ef-bfdb-8720a6711c5e.html |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=August 1, 2024 |language=en}} Leach was declared the winner on November 15, 2024. McLean passed away less than 24 hours later in Tucson, Arizona, the victim of a suspected drunk driver.{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=Stepheny |date=November 16, 2024 |title=Arizona state Senate candidate John McLean killed in suspected DUI crash: 'True public servant' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-state-senate-candidate-john-mclean-killed-suspected-dui-crash-true-public-servant |access-date=November 16, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116081118/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-state-senate-candidate-john-mclean-killed-suspected-dui-crash-true-public-servant |archive-date=November 16, 2024}}

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• [http://vinceleach.com Official campaign page]

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{{s-ttl|title=President pro tempore of the Arizona Senate|years=2021–2023}}

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Category:Living people

Category:People from Wild Rose, Wisconsin

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Politicians from Phoenix, Arizona

Category:Republican Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party Arizona state senators

Category:University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century members of the Arizona State Legislature

Category:People from Coloma, Wisconsin