Kirsten Engel is an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives and the Arizona Senate for the 10th district from 2017 to 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Kirsten Engel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Arizona Senate from the 10th district | |
| In office January 11, 2021 – September 8, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | David Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Stahl Hamilton |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 10th district | |
| In office January 9, 2017 – January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Stahl Hamilton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1961/1962 (age 62–63) Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | |
| Website | Campaign website |
Engel started her career at the Environmental Protection Agency, and later worked as an assistant state attorney general before transitioning to education. Engel has been a professor at the University of Arizona since 2005, specializing in environmental and administrative law.
In both 2022 and 2024, Engel ran for U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 6th congressional district, losing both times.
Early life and education
editEngel was born and raised in Chicago.[1] She graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1983.[2][3] Engel graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 1986.[2]
Legal career
editAfter law school, Engel clerked for Judge Myron H. Bright of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She then worked for the United States Environmental Protection Agency and later for Earthjustice.[4][5]
While at Earthjustice, Engel was condemned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for overbilling the federal government for "imaginary or unnecessary legal services".[6]
Engel later served as an assistant attorney general in the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office until 2005.[4] Afterwards, she joined the faculty at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law where she teaches environmental and administrative law.[5][7]
Arizona House of Representatives
editElections
editEngel was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2016 and assumed office in January 2017.[8] Engel did not seek re-election to the House in 2020 and instead ran for the state senate.[9][10]
Committee assignments
edit- Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
- Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee[11]
Arizona Senate
editElections
editEngel ran for the Arizona Senate in 2020. She won the election and assumed office in January 2021 and served until her resignation in September 2021 to run for Congress.[9][10]
Committee assignments
edit- Ethics Committee
- Finance Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee[12]
Congressional elections
edit2022
editIn 2022, Engel launched her congressional campaign for Arizona's 6th congressional district.[9][10] She lost to Republican Juan Ciscomani.[13]
2024
editShe ran in a rematch against Ciscomani in the 2024 election for Arizona's 6th congressional district.[14] In the November 2024 general election, Engel was again defeated by Ciscomani.[15]
Political positions
editEngel supports expanding solar energy in Arizona.[16] She has expressed support for stronger federal regulations to reduce air and water pollution from power plants.[17] Engel has called for taking steps to make "it a pain to drive" gasoline-powered vehicles.[18]
Engel supports increasing funding for public schools and has said that observing conditions at her daughter's public school motivated her to run for office initially.[5]
Engel characterized the situation at the U.S.–Mexico border as "a humanitarian crisis" and expressed support for reforming asylum-seeking processes.[19]
Personal life
editEngel is married with one daughter and lives in Tucson, Arizona.[20]
References
edit- ^ Dylan Smith (March 19, 2021). "State lawmaker Kirsten Engel announces run to fill Kirkpatrick's seat in Congress". TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "See Jane Run: Three Northwestern Law Alumnae Share Their Experiences in Politics". June 11, 2018.
- ^ "Kirsten Engel CV" (PDF). University of Arizona.
- ^ a b Schmidt, Caitlin (July 23, 2016). "3 Democrats vying for two House seats in Legislative District 10". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c Parker, Sam (October 10, 2021). "UA professor and congressional candidate hosts town hall on campus". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Democratic House candidate overbilled taxpayers for 'imaginary' fees as lawyer: Court records".
- ^ Multiple sources:
- Kelty, Bennito L. (September 8, 2021). "Kirsten Engel resigns from Az Legislature to run full-time for Congress". TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- "Women in climate change: Kirsten Engel". University of Arizona News. March 16, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- Johnson, Jon (June 15, 2022). "Congressional candidate takes economic tour of Graham County". The Gila Herald. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ a b c Williams, Jordan (March 19, 2021). "Arizona state senator announces bid for Kirkpatrick's seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Engel quits Arizona Senate to focus on District 2 congressional race". KSAZ-TV. Associated Press. September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "House Member: Kirsten Engel". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "Senate Member". www.azleg.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "AP says Ciscomani defeats Engel in Tucson's Congressional District 6". Arizona Daily Star. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ Gersony, Laura. "Arizona 6th Congressional District candidates: Where Ciscomaini, Engel stand on issues". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Steff Danielle (November 12, 2024). "Arizona Republican Juan Ciscomani wins reelection". The Hill. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ Estrada, Melissa. "Here are the candidates running in Arizona's new 6th Congressional District". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ Botts, Lindsey. "Push for environmental justice in underserved communities gains traction in Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Dem candidate advocated making 'it a pain to drive' on panel for group that pushed 'usage-based' driving fees".
- ^ "Congressional District 6 Democratic candidates debate immigration, inflation and more". Arizona PBS. May 18, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "House Member – Kirsten Engel". Arizona legislature. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
External links
edit
- Kirsten Engel for Arizona campaign website
- Biography at Ballotpedia
- Biography at the University of Arizona