Matt Salmon (R-AZ-6)

Matt Salmon Congressional Candidate Arizona District 6

Biography from Matt Salmon for Congress

Matt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud fiscal conservative, Salmon played a pivotal role in balancing the first federal budget in a Generation, and was rated in the top five among all 535 members of the House and Senate by Citizen’s Against Government Waste for all six years he served in office.

During his time in Congress, Salmon was named a “Watchdog of the Treasury” six consecutive years and earned the “Taxpayer Hero Award” from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.  Salmon’s record of supporting pro-business policies earned him the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for each of the six years he served. Salmon was also honored as a “Friend of Small Business” from the National Federation of Independent Business for six consecutive years.

Among Salmon’s many Congressional accomplishments was the sponsoring of “Aimee’s Law,” a measure that gave “No Second Chances” for rapists, molesters and murderers. “Aimee’s Law” received widespread support by a large number of organizations and victims’ rights groups including the National Fraternal Order of Police, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, Kids Safe, Justice for All, National Association of Crime Victims’ Rights, and the Women’s Coalition.

Salmon was also the recipient of the American Cancer Society’s “Top National Elected Official” award.

While in Congress, Salmon led several U.S. Congressional delegations to China to improve trade relations and bilateral relationships. He was the only member of the U.S. Congress in America’s history to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese. In 2000, Salmon was instrumental in obtaining the release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi who was being held in China on spying charges.

Salmon began his career in public service as an Arizona State Senator, a position in which he served from 1991 to 1995. While in the Arizona Senate, he served as the Assistant Majority Leader and chaired the Rules Committee.

Before serving as a State Senator, Salmon worked thirteen years as a telecommunications executive in Arizona. Salmon earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Brigham Young University. He is a proud graduate of Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona.

Salmon is a lifetime member of the NRA with an A+ rating of supporting 2nd Amendment rights. He also earned a 100% rating by the National Right to Life.

Matt Salmon has been married for 32 years to his best friend, Nancy. They are the proud parents of four children and the proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

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