# Ken Bennett

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American politician (born 1959)

For other people named Ken Bennett, see [Ken Bennett (disambiguation)](/source/Ken_Bennett_(disambiguation)).

Ken Bennett Member of the Arizona Senate from the 1st district In office January 9, 2023 – January 13, 2025 Preceded by Karen Fann Succeeded by Mark Finchem 19th Secretary of State of Arizona In office January 26, 2009 – January 5, 2015 Governor Jan Brewer Preceded by Jan Brewer Succeeded by Michele Reagan President of the Arizona Senate In office January 2003 – January 2007 Preceded by Randall Gnant Succeeded by Tim Bee Member of the Arizona Senate from the 1st district In office January 1999 – January 2007 Preceded by Carol Springer Succeeded by Tom O'Halleran Personal details Born Kenneth Roy Bennett (1959-08-01) August 1, 1959 (age 66) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. Party Republican Education Yavapai College Arizona State University, Tempe (BS) Website Official website

**Kenneth Roy Bennett** (born August 1, 1959) is an American politician. A member of the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)), he was a member of the [Arizona Senate](/source/Arizona_Senate) from 2023 to 2025. He previously was a member of the state Senate from 1999 to 2007, and president of the state Senate from 2003 to 2007. He was [Secretary of State of Arizona](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_Arizona) from 2009 to 2015. He unsuccessfully ran for [governor of Arizona](/source/Governor_of_Arizona) in the [2014](/source/2014_Arizona_gubernatorial_election) and [2018 elections](/source/2018_Arizona_gubernatorial_election).[1]

## Early life

Ken Bennett was born in [Tucson, Arizona](/source/Tucson%2C_Arizona).[2] His parents moved to [Prescott](/source/Prescott%2C_Arizona) shortly thereafter, where he was raised and later graduated from [Prescott High School](/source/Prescott_High_School_(Arizona)).[2] Upon graduation, Bennett served a two-year [mission](/source/Missionary_(LDS_Church)) in southern Japan, and remains an active member of [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints).[2]

In 1981, he graduated from [Yavapai College](/source/Yavapai_College) under the President's Scholarship.[2][3] He then transferred to [Arizona State University](/source/Arizona_State_University) (ASU) in [Tempe](/source/Tempe%2C_Arizona), graduating with [Bachelor's](/source/Bachelor's) in Accounting.[4][5]

## Business career

Bennett began work for Bennett Oil Company, a fuel distribution business in northern [Arizona](/source/Arizona), in 1984.[2] Initially working in finance, Bennett eventually inherited the position of chief executive officer, where he remained until 2006.[2][5][6]

In addition, he sits on the board of directors for Global Building Systems Inc.,[7] a sustainable building systems company, as well as Treasurer on the board of directors of [Cancer Treatment Centers of America](/source/Cancer_Treatment_Centers_of_America).

## Political career

Bennett is an active member of Arizona Tea Party groups and regularly attends Tea Party events and meetings.

Bennett was elected to the Prescott City Council in 1985 and served as Mayor [Pro Tem](/source/Pro_Tem) in 1988.[5][8][9] He served on the City Council until 1989.[10] He was appointed to the Arizona State [Board of education](/source/Board_of_education) in 1992, serving as president in 1996 and 1998.[11] In 1998, he was elected to the [Arizona State Senate](/source/Arizona_State_Senate), serving four two-year terms, the second as Chairman of the Education Committee, and the third and fourth as [President of the Senate](/source/President_of_the_Senate) (2003–2007).[2]

When [Jan Brewer](/source/Jan_Brewer) ascended from [Arizona Secretary of State](/source/Arizona_Secretary_of_State) to governor upon [Janet Napolitano](/source/Janet_Napolitano)'s resignation to become [United States Secretary of Homeland Security](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_Homeland_Security), Bennett was selected as the new secretary of state, being sworn in on January 26, 2009.[5][12] Upon completing that term, Bennett won election to a full term as secretary of state in the November 2010 with 59% of the vote.[13]

## Contest of Obama's 2008 Election Qualifications and 2012 Attempt to Restrict Ballot Access

In 2012, as secretary of state, Bennett denied being a "[birther](/source/Barack_Obama_citizenship_conspiracy_theories)" (a conspiracy theorist who believed that President Barack Obama was not a U.S. citizen), but nonetheless made national news when he requested Obama's birth certificate from the state of [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) as a prerequisite to listing Obama on that year's presidential ballot.[14] Bennett said he had made at the "request of numerous constituents"; after Hawaii provided the verification, Bennett said he accepted that Obama was born in the United States.[14]

## 2014 Governor's Race

Bennett officially announced his intention to run for [governor](/source/List_of_governors_of_Arizona) on November 12, 2013.[5][15] Bennett came in fourth in the six-way Republican primary, gaining 11.45% of the vote and losing to [Doug Ducey](/source/Doug_Ducey).[16]

## 2016 Congress Run

In 2015, Bennett announced his intention to run for Congress in Arizona's 1st Congressional district.[17][18] He was endorsed by the [Arizona Republic](/source/Arizona_Republic).[19] On August 30, 2016, he lost the Republican primary to Sheriff [Paul Babeu](/source/Paul_Babeu).

## 2021 Senate Liaison to Arizona Audit

In 2021, the Arizona state senate controlled by Republicans provided $150,000 for funding an [audit of the 2020 election presidential results](/source/2021_Maricopa_County_presidential_ballot_audit) in [Maricopa County](/source/Maricopa_County), with Bennett becoming a liaison between the contractors performing the audit, the state, and the county.[20] In late July 2021, it was reported that Bennett had been "banned from entering the building where the recount process is ongoing, after he shared some data with experts that showed the results match the officially certified numbers in Maricopa County".[21]

Bennett's January 6 "Political Prisoner" advocacy organization also held events, titled “What Happened at the Audit: A Town Hall Series with Ken Bennett,” aimed at “giving the public a chance to directly question one of the central figures in the Arizona Audit,” according to a press announcement from the organization, held at Scottsdale Studios owned by j [22]

## January 6 "Political Prisoner" Advocacy Organization

Bennett served as a chairman for the Look Ahead Group that advocates for [January 6th](/source/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack) "political prisoners," with [Matt Braynard](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Braynard&action=edit&redlink=1) who briefly worked on the data team for former president Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, and Julie Fisher, who worked on Trump's campaign in 2020.[22]

## Personal life

He met his wife Jeanne at ASU, and the two were married in 1982.[2] They have three grown children – Ryan, Dana and Clifton – and two grandsons.[2]

### Legal troubles involving son

In 2005, Clifton, along with two others, were arrested and accused of "brooming" 18 middle-school aged boys in the [buttocks](/source/Buttocks) area while they were clothed.[23] Witness reports on the "brooming" incidents ranged from the use of brooms to touch the boys' rectal areas, to holding one boy down while shoving a broomstick against his buttocks.[23]

As part of a plea deal that Clifton accepted in 2006, he was sentenced to spend 30 days in jail, in addition to probation and community service.[23]

Despite claims by the parents of some of the victims that the incidents constituted [sexual abuse](/source/Sexual_abuse),[24] prosecutors argued instead that the crimes were not sexually motivated, which a trial judge agreed.[25]

Parents of some of the victims have criticized the outcome, decrying what they perceive as a lenient sentence and suggesting that a plea deal was done because of Bennett's political status as president of the state senate.[25][24]

Both Bennett and the prosecutor have denied allegations of political pressure in the case, with Bennett going as far as accusing critics of knowingly making false statements due to what he claims as a lack of evidence on him attempting to sway the case.[24]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Ruelas, Richard. ["Ken Bennett, former Secretary of State, to challenge Gov. Doug Ducey in GOP primary"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/04/21/ken-bennett-former-secretary-state-challenge-gov-doug-ducey-gop-primary/539325002/). *The Arizona Republic*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-aslegislature_2-8) ["Arizona State Legislature: Ken Bennett"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140225025813/http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=2&Legislature=46&Session_ID=76). Archived from [the original](http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=2&Legislature=46&Session_ID=76) on February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Yavapai College: Alumni Directory"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140221202822/http://www.yc.edu/v5content/alumni/directory.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.yc.edu/v5content/alumni/directory.htm) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["ASU Alumni Politicians"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170702015846/http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/fall2004/alumnipolitcians.html). *cronkitezine.asu.edu*. Archived from [the original](https://cronkitezine.asu.edu/fall2004/alumnipolitcians.html) on July 2, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sonoranewsgovernor_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sonoranewsgovernor_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sonoranewsgovernor_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-sonoranewsgovernor_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-sonoranewsgovernor_5-4) Linda Bentley, [Field of six vying for governor in Republican Primary](http://www.sonorannews.com/archives/2014/140806/news-governor.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211205104552/http://www.sonorannews.com/archives/2014/140806/news-governor.html) December 5, 2021, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *[Sonoran News](/source/Sonoran_News)*, August 6, 2014

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Our Campaigns – Candidate – Ken Bennett"](https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=6805). *www.ourcampaigns.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Global Building Systems: Board of Directors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140221180310/http://www.gbsi-step.com/docs/newsletters/Newsletter%20Issue%207.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.gbsi-step.com/docs/newsletters/Newsletter%20Issue%207.pdf) (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Ken Hedler, [Former Senator Ken Bennett bows out of congressional race](http://www.countysupervisors.org/news/view_article.cfm?ID=282) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140223123727/http://www.countysupervisors.org/news/view_article.cfm?ID=282) February 23, 2014, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *The Daily Courier*, September 6, 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["14 Nov 1985, p. 22, Arizona Republic"](http://www.newspapers.com/image/120185305/). *Newspapers.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Ken Bennett | Arizona Secretary of State"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180826180739/https://azsos.gov/about-office/secretaries-since-statehood/ken-bennett). *azsos.gov*. Archived from [the original](https://azsos.gov/about-office/secretaries-since-statehood/ken-bennett) on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Editorial: Ken Bennett’s aspirations to serve as governor good news for Arizona](http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&ArticleID=48328) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140223112830/http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&ArticleID=48328) February 23, 2014, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *[Verde Independent](/source/Verde_Independent)*, May 29, 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Newton, Casey](/source/Casey_Newton) (January 9, 2009). ["Brewer picks Ken Bennett for sec. of state"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140222025116/https://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2009/01/09/20090109sos-appointment0109-ON-CP.html). *[12 News](/source/KPNX)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2009/01/09/20090109sos-appointment0109-ON-CP.html) on February 22, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Arizona Secretary of State biography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140222131731/http://www.azsos.gov/Info/Bio.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.azsos.gov/Info/Bio.htm) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Weiner_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Weiner_14-1) Rachel Weiner, [Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett satisfied Obama was born in United States](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/arizona-secretary-of-state-ken-bennett-satisfied-obama-was-born-in-united-states/2012/05/23/gJQAN1czkU_blog.html) *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*, May 23, 2012

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Campaign website"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100914151457/http://www.bennettarizona.com/news/). Archived from the original on September 14, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-primaryresults_16-0)** ["Unofficial Results Primary Election"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141002100151/http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AZ/50936/139543/Web01/en/summary.html). Arizona Secretary of State. Archived from [the original](http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AZ/50936/139543/Web01/en/summary.html) on October 2, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Meet Congressional Dist. 1 candidate Ken Bennett - the Verde Independent - Cottonwood, Arizona"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160814184611/http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=71157). Archived from [the original](http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=71157) on August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Pitzl, Mary Jo. ["Bennett to run for Congress in 1st District"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2015/07/13/ken-bennett-congresss-run-district/30104585/). *The Arizona Republic*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Editorial Board. ["Our View: Send a gentleman to Congress. Vote Bennett"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/07/29/ken-bennett-endorsement/87699794/). *The Arizona Republic*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT_20-0)** [Arizona Review of 2020 Vote Is Riddled With Flaws, Says Secretary of State](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/us/arizona-vote-count-republicans.html), *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, Michael Wines, May 6, 2021, updated May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Lemon, Jason (July 24, 2021). ["Arizona GOP Audit Director Barred From Recount After Sharing Data Supporting Trump Loss"](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/arizona-gop-audit-director-barred-from-recount-after-sharing-data-supporting-trump-loss/ar-AAMw9Ns?ocid=msedgntp). *www.msn.com*. [Newsweek](/source/Newsweek).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-azmirror.com_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-azmirror.com_22-1) ["Bennett headlining "audit" town halls with group that organized "Justice for J6" rallies • Arizona Mirror"](https://www.azmirror.com/blog/bennett-headlining-audit-town-halls-with-group-that-organized-justice-for-j6-rallies/).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CliftonBrooming_23-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CliftonBrooming_23-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CliftonBrooming_23-2) Innes, Stephanie (May 13, 2006). ["Senator's son sentenced to jail"](https://tucson.com/news/local/senator-s-son-sentenced-to-jail/article_f8afe4d2-029e-5ab8-b31f-f72fe18122ef.html). *[Arizona Daily Star](/source/Arizona_Daily_Star)*. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CliftonPleaDeal_24-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CliftonPleaDeal_24-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CliftonPleaDeal_24-2) ["Did politics sway 'hazing gone wrong' case?"](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12467179). [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). April 24, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CliftonEVT_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CliftonEVT_25-1) Grado, Gary (May 13, 2006). ["Senator's son gets 30 days in jail for hazing"](https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/senator-s-son-gets-days-in-jail-for-hazing/article_dea24cc4-1df9-56db-a9b2-6988fb56da97.html). *[East Valley Tribune](/source/East_Valley_Tribune)*. Retrieved November 25, 2019.

- [Biography portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)

Arizona Senate Preceded by Randall Gnant President of the Arizona Senate 2003–2007 Succeeded by Tim Bee Political offices Preceded by Jan Brewer Secretary of State of Arizona 2009–2015 Succeeded by Michele Reagan

v t e Secretaries of state of Arizona Sidney P. Osborn Mit Simms Ernest R. Hall James H. Kerby John C. Callaghan I. P. Fraizer Scott White James H. Kerby Harry M. Moore Dan E. Garvey Curtis M. Williams Wesley Bolin Rose Mofford James Shumway Richard Mahoney Jane D. Hull Betsey Bayless Jan Brewer Ken Bennett Michele Reagan Katie Hobbs Adrian Fontes

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ken Bennett](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bennett) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Bennett?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.