50 Best State GOP Electoral Successes - Arizona

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Next in our continuing series subtitled "The 50 Best GOP from the U.S. 50, over the last 50 years" we'll be honoring the Grand Canyon state. Putting aside the humongously-large and powerful state of California, Arizona may have had more significant congressional leaders/Senators for any state west of the Mississippi over these last 50 years. Hence there are many honorees to choose from, and some good GOPers since 1960 will not make the cut. But considering his effect on the politics and partisanship of the state over this period, late Senator Barry Goldwater is the near-unanimous choice for the honor of representing the mavericky state of Arizona.
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Praising Arizona: Barry Goldwater

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Before he came to be known as "Mr. Conservative," Barry Goldwater came along to defeat heavyweight Earnest McFarland in 1952. In its short history, the 48th state of Arizona had only been served by a Republican in the U.S. Senate for one six-year term. Since 1960, it has seen only two Democrats elected as Senator, and only one since 1980. Also, since voting for Harry Truman in 1948, Arizona has voted Republican every time for president except one (Clinton, 1996, by only 2%). Much of the credit for vastly improving the GOP brand in this once-DemocRAT state (pre-1952) belongs to the late-great Senator. Though its leanings were always somewhat libertarian conservative, Arizona, like much of the Southwest, had developed the bad habit of behaving like the Deep South by voting Democrat for most of its elected offices. Mr. Goldwater's heavyweight stature on capitol Hill had a lasting impression on the state's voting habits, as well as following generations of Arizona lawmakers who went on to represent the state locally and in Washington D.C.

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Barry Goldwater began his federal career by knocking off two-term sitting U.S. Senate Majority Leader, and who later went on to be Arizona's governor for a term, Earnest McFarland. No small accomplishment to begin with, since such young and small states tend to stick with powerful incumbents to bring stature, influence and federal $$ back to their states. By the end of his 2nd full term in the Senate, Mr. Goldwater was down after winning only 38% and six states as GOP nominee for President in 1964. But one saving grace was that his successor to the seat was also a Republican, who kept it for two more terms until his own retirement.

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In a rare political feat, Mr. Goldwater captured AZ's other Class III Senate seat only four years later, following the retirement of another powerhouse, Democrat Carl Hayden. Despite the soaring population and changing demographics of the state from the 60s up until his last race in 1980 (which was won by a surprisingly close margin for such a long-time figure during a GOP-tide year), Mr. Goldwater attained electoral success like no other figure in the GOP. Knowing his time in electoral politics was due to come to a close (He would be 77 once his next term would be up in 1986.), he paved the way for John S McCain (Bipartisan - AZ) to run for and win his seat during the GOP bloodbath year of 1986, where many of the gains once made on Ronald Reagan's coattails were lost in the wake of Iran Contra. Mr. McCain himself had seen no serious elctoral challenge until the 2010 GOP primary.

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Despite his friction with the Christian right in his later Senate and retirement years, "Mr. Conservative" has a unsurpassed legacy in the state. Among the monuments named in his honor are a terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Goldwater Memorial Park in Paradise Valley and Barry Goldwater High School in northern Phoenix. Add in the Goldwater Institute think tank and it makes for quite a stature in the state. But it's his influence on turning Arizona from habitually Democrat in its voting habits to nearly automatic GOP (at least until 2006 - certainly not his fault 8 years after his death) which earns Barry Goldwater the honor as one of the "50 Best" of the last 50 years.

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Honorable Mention: Senators John McCain & John Kyl; House Minority Leader John Rhodes; Congressman John Shadegg

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Next Week: Arkansas

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- 50 Best