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Douglas Anthony Ducey (/ˈduːsi/ DOO-see; né Roscoe Jr.; born April 9, 1964) is an American businessman and Republican politician who served as the 23rd governor of Arizona from 2015 to 2023 and as Arizona State Treasurer from 2011 to 2015. He was CEO of the ice cream parlor chain Cold Stone Creamery from 1995 to 2007.

Key Information

Originally from Ohio, Ducey moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University (ASU), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance. He began a career in sales and marketing and became chief executive officer of Cold Stone Creamery in 1995. He sold the company in 2007 and was elected Arizona state treasurer in 2010. Ducey won the 2014 Arizona Republican primary for Governor of Arizona and defeated Democratic businessman Fred DuVal in the general election; he took office on January 5, 2015. He was reelected by a wide margin in 2018, defeating Democratic nominee David Garcia.

Ducey's fellow Republican governors elected him chair of the Republican Governors Association for 2021 and co-chair in 2022.[1][2] Ducey had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate, but declined to run in the 2024 election against incumbent Kyrsten Sinema.[3][4] He left office on January 2, 2023, and was succeeded by Democrat Katie Hobbs. In June 2023, he was announced as CEO of Citizens for Free Enterprise, a political action committee focused on economic freedom.[5][6][7]

Early life and education

[edit]

Ducey was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio.[8] He is the son of Madeline Scott and Douglas Roscoe, a former member of the Toledo Police Department.[9]

His parents divorced and in 1975 his mother married businessman Michael Ducey, to whom she remained married until 1981.[10] Michael Ducey adopted Roscoe and his siblings in 1976; Roscoe's last name was legally changed to his adoptive father's.[11]

Ducey graduated from St. John's Jesuit High School in 1982 and moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University (ASU) while working at Hensley & Co., the Anheuser-Busch distributor owned by the family of Cindy McCain.[12] He graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance.[13]

Career

[edit]

Business

[edit]

After graduating from ASU, Ducey joined Procter & Gamble and began a career in sales and marketing.[14] Ducey worked as the CEO of Cold Stone Creamery from 1995 to 2007.[15] When he and his business partner sold the company in 2007, Cold Stone had more than 1,400 locations in the United States and ten other countries.[16] After the company's sale to Kahala, accusations of franchise mismanagement led Ducey to leave the organization.[17]

He became the lead investor and was chairman of the board of iMemories, a photo and home movie digitizing service, from 2008 to 2012.[18]

State Treasurer of Arizona (2011–2015)

[edit]
Ducey speaking to a political action committee in 2012

In 2010 Ducey was elected state treasurer of Arizona, replacing Dean Martin. As Arizona's chief banker and investment officer, Ducey oversaw more than $12 billion in state assets and was an investment manager for local governments.[19] The Treasurer serves as the chairman of Arizona's State Board of Investment and State Loan Commission,[19] and as the state's surveyor general and a member of the State Land Selection Board. Ducey also served as the western region vice president for the National Association of State Treasurers, and was the president of the Western State Treasurers' Association.[20]

During his tenure as state treasurer, Ducey created and championed Arizona Proposition 118, a ballot measure to simplify how schools receive funding from Arizona’s State Land Trust.[21] Arizona voters passed Proposition 118 in 2012.[22][better source needed]

In 2010, Ducey opposed Proposition 204, an effort to create a permanent 1-cent-per-dollar sales tax for public education, transportation and health services.[23] He formally launched a campaign to defeat the proposition, saying, "we don’t need the money" and "this money still does nothing to improve education".[24] Proposition 204 failed, with 63.8% of voters opposing it.[25][better source needed]

Gubernatorial campaigns

[edit]

2014 campaign

[edit]
Main article: 2014 Arizona gubernatorial election
Ducey accepting his party's nomination for governor of Arizona in August 2014.

In July 2013 Ducey filed the paperwork necessary to explore the possibility of running for governor.[26] On February 19, 2014, he formally announced his intention to seek the office at a rally in downtown Phoenix.[27]

He received the endorsement of conservatives such as Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, as well as Governor Scott Walker and former Senator Jon Kyl. Ducey won the Republican nomination in the August primary, and was subsequently endorsed by the outgoing governor, Jan Brewer, along with Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake and other Republicans in Arizona's Congressional delegation. Ducey was endorsed by several organizations, including Arizona Right to Life[28] and the Concerned Women for America.[29]

Ducey defeated Democrat Fred DuVal and Libertarian Barry Hess in the November 4 general election.[30]

2018 campaign

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election
Ducey at a campaign rally in Gilbert, Arizona in October 2018.

In 2018, Ducey announced his candidacy for reelection. Former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett challenged him in the Republican primary and lost by a wide margin.[31] Ducey was reelected in November, defeating Democratic nominee David Garcia, 56%-42%.[32][33]

Governor of Arizona (2015–2023)

[edit]
Ducey speaking at a campaign event for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in October 2016 with Indiana Governor Mike Pence, the vice-presidential nominee.

Ducey was sworn into office on January 5, 2015.[34] Shortly after his term began, he instituted a state employee hiring freeze in an effort to balance the state budget.[35] In March 2015, Ducey signed a $9.1 billion budget that eliminated the state's $1.5 billion budget deficit by reducing spending without instituting a tax increase.[36] Ducey has issued balanced budget proposals each fiscal year since 2015.[37]

On January 15, 2015, Ducey signed an education bill requiring high school students to pass the U.S. citizenship test in order to graduate, making Arizona the first state to require this.[38][39]

Ducey issued his first vetoes on March 30, 2015, of HB2150, an amendment to an animal cruelty law that would have excluded livestock animals from protection under that law,[40] and HB2410, which would have prohibited police departments from establishing quotas for traffic citations.[41]

In April 2016, Ducey signed into law legislation that would bar the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.[42]

On March 31, 2017, Ducey signed SB1367, which mandates that doctors treat babies born alive during abortions or induced early deliveries. Late-term abortions had previously been performed in rare circumstances where the life of the baby and the mother was at risk; opponents of the bill said that the new restrictions would force doctors to provide pointless treatment to babies that were not expected to live.[43]

On April 6, 2017, Ducey signed a major school voucher expansion bill, extending eligibility to every Arizona student.[44]

On September 4, 2018, it was announced that Ducey had appointed former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl to the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated upon the death of John McCain.[45] Kyl resigned from the Senate effective December 31, 2018,[46] and Ducey appointed former Congresswoman Martha McSally to replace him.[47]

On February 22, 2019, President Donald Trump appointed Ducey to the bipartisan Council of Governors.[48]

In January 2021, Ducey announced that he would not seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in the 2022 election.[49]

Leaving office on January 2, 2023, Ducey became Arizona's first Governor since Bruce Babbitt in 1986 who had fully served two four-year terms.

Education

[edit]
Ducey with Wisconsin governor Scott Walker in March 2015

After cuts to education during the Great Recession, Ducey increased funding to K-12 schools above inflation every year during his tenure.[50] Since 2015, Arizona has added $4.5 billion in total new investments into schools and increased K-12 public school funding by $2.3 billion annually.[51][52]

In 2015, Ducey led the campaign to pass Proposition 123, putting $3.5 billion into K-12 education over 10 years. The proposition, which passed the state legislature and was approved by voters, also settled a years-long lawsuit about education funding.[53]

In 2018, in response to nationwide teacher protests, Ducey announced the "20x2020" plan, which would raise teacher salaries 20% over three years and restore Recession-era cuts to flexible school funding known as additional assistance. The promise was fulfilled on schedule through the fiscal year 2021 budget, which included $645 million in permanent funding for teacher raises. The promised restoration of additional assistance dollars has taken place ahead of schedule.[54]

Also in 2018, Ducey signed a 20-year extension of Proposition 301, a voter-approved initiative passed in 2000 and championed by then-Governor Jane Hull. The proposition provides about $667 million annually to Arizona’s K-12 public schools, universities, community colleges, and tribal schools through a 0.6% sales tax.[55]

In 2017, Ducey implemented the first-ever dedicated funding for school counselors and the establishment of the Arizona Teachers Academy, a partnership with Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University that enables future Arizona public school teachers to graduate with a teaching degree debt-free.[56]

Civics

[edit]

On January 16, 2015, Ducey signed the American Civics Act, which requires that all Arizona students pass a basic civics test before graduating from high school.[57] It was the first bill he signed, making Arizona the first state in the country to enact such a law.[58] Since its enactment, 34 states have passed similar legislation.[59]

In 2018, Ducey proclaimed September 25 the inaugural Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day, in honor of Sandra Day O’Connor’s dedication to civics and her swearing-in to the Supreme Court on September 25, 1981.[60] In March 2020, he signed into law the Civics Celebration Day bill, which requires schools to dedicate the majority of classroom instruction to civics on September 25.[59][61]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

[edit]

Ducey opposed the Affordable Care Act, saying, "It's no secret Obamacare has been a disaster for Arizona and that I want it repealed and replaced."[62] On July 30, 2017, the Arizona Republic reported that Ducey had urged Senators Jeff Flake and John McCain to vote for legislation to repeal and replace it. McCain ultimately voted against repeal.[62]

In September 2017, Ducey released a statement endorsing the Graham–Cassidy health care amendment as "the best path forward to repeal and replace Obamacare."[63] On September 20, he said his staff was analyzing the Graham–Cassidy bill's effects on the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and asserted that the ACA had been a failure. He admitted he had not seen the final version of the bill but said he suspected it would be “the longest possible transition so that we can move people from Medicaid into a superior insurance product."[64]

Confederate monuments

[edit]

In August 2017, after violence by protesters at a gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia, Ducey said in response to a reporter's question that he had no interest in removing Confederate monuments from public lands in Arizona.[65] He condemned groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis and said, "It's important that people know our history... I don't think we should try to hide our history."[65][66]

LGBT rights and same-sex marriage

[edit]

As a candidate, Ducey opposed same-sex marriage as well as domestic partnerships for unmarried couples.[67] As governor, in 2015, he supported allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.[68] After same-sex marriage was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges, Ducey said the state would comply with the law and that there were good people on both sides of the issue.[69] In 2017, he said he would not ask the legislature to pass anti-discrimination laws, but added that he opposed discrimination based on sexual orientation.[70] In April 2019, he signed into law a bill that repealed the sex and health education laws that prohibited the "promotion" of homosexuality as an acceptable "lifestyle".[71]

In March 2022, Ducey signed two transgender-related bills into law. One bans transgender people from playing on school sports teams aligning with their gender identity rather than their biological sex. One bars people under 18 from receiving sex-reassignment surgeries.[72]

State firings

[edit]

Under Ducey, the state government was mandated to "shrink", which led Ducey-appointed administrator Tim Jeffries to fire over 400 state employees at the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). Ducey then prohibited DES leadership from firing employees. The employees were fired for infractions such as questioning leadership for sending purportedly political emails on government systems. Fired employees will be able to petition for reconsideration of their firings with the state HR chief, but do not have the rights in employment they once did because of a law signed by Governor Brewer that converted them to at-will employment in return for bonuses.[73][74]

State land trust

[edit]

Ducey was a major proponent of AZ Prop 123, which slowly took more money from the state land trust to settle a lawsuit that a judge ruled deprived students and teachers of adequate education funding as mandated by Arizona voters. The Arizona legislature violated the law by funding education in the state below the level required by AZ Prop 301, which passed in 2000.[75] Prop 123 settled the lawsuit without raising revenue by increasing distributions from the land trust the federal government bequeathed to Arizona at statehood. The law passed amid controversy, and many teachers were promised small raises only if the law passed, creating an emergent political issue.[76][77] With a strong Republican majority, it was not considered politically possible to raise revenue to fund education to the level required, so Prop 123 represented a grand compromise.[78]

Judicial appointments

[edit]

As governor, Ducey signed legislation to expand the Arizona Supreme Court, seating two additional justices of his choosing.[79] In doing so, he denied that he was "packing the court".[80] The legislation was "championed by Republicans but decried by Democrats as an effort by the governor to pack the court with his nominees."[81] In November 2016, Ducey appointed Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Andrew Gould and state Solicitor General John Lopez IV to the two new seats.[81] Lopez is the state's first Latino justice.[82]

As of April 2020, Ducey has made 71 judicial appointments, more than any other Arizona governor, surpassing a record previously held by Bruce Babbitt.[83] In January 2016, Ducey appointed Clint Bolick to the Arizona Supreme Court.[84][85] Before his appointment, Bolick worked as an attorney for the conservative Goldwater Institute.[80] In April 2019, Ducey appointed Court of Appeals Judge James Beene to the Arizona Supreme Court.[86]

In September 2019, Ducey controversially appointed Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery to the Arizona Supreme Court.[87][88] The nomination occurred after Ducey replaced several members of the state's judicial nominating commission, who had refused to submit Montgomery's name for a vacancy earlier in the year.[89]

In July 2021, Ducey appointed his former deputy general counsel, Kathryn Hackett King, to succeed Gould on the Supreme Court. King is the court's fifth female justice and the first appointed by Ducey.[90]

Ducey has also appointed several judges to state appellate and trial courts. In 2017, he became the first governor since 1991 to appoint a judge from the opposing political party to the Arizona Court of Appeals.[91][92][93]

Unemployment benefits

[edit]
Ducey speaking at a "Tax Cuts Now" rally in Phoenix, November 2017

In May 2018, Ducey signed into law a bill that requires people who collect unemployment benefits for more than four weeks to take any job that pays 20% more than the unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits in Arizona are capped at $240 a week or half what people earned before they were laid off. The new legislation means that people must take jobs paying $288 a week (about $15,000 a year) regardless of what they used to make.[94]

Marijuana legalization

[edit]

Ducey opposed a 2016 ballot measure to legalize cannabis for recreational use in Arizona. He stated that he didn't think "any state became stronger by being stoned" and helped raise funds in support of the initiative's opposition campaign.[95][96] Ducey also opposed a similar ballot measure in 2020 (Proposition 207) which was approved with 60% of the vote.[97]

COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]
Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Health Services announced the first case of COVID-19 in Arizona on January 26, 2020, a student at Arizona State University who returned from Wuhan, China.[98] The number of cases rose to nine by mid-March.[98] On March 11, Ducey declared a state of emergency and activated the state's emergency operations center.[99] He also issued executive orders directing the state health department to issue emergency rules to protect residents living in nursing homes and group homes.[99] On March 15, Ducey and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman jointly announced a statewide school closure.[100]

On March 30, 2020, Ducey issued a stay-at-home order for one month until April 30.[101] On April 29, he extended the stay-at-home order until May 15.[101] On May 12, Arizona began allowing certain businesses to reopen; both the lockdown and reopening were later cited in two recall efforts against Ducey.[102][103][104] The reopening contradicted the advice of academic experts.[105][106] At the same time Ducey was reopening the state, he ended cooperation with a team of epidemiologists and statisticians from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.[107][108] After public criticism, the department resumed the cooperation.[107]

In May 2020, Arizona sought a uniform approach to COVID-19 with consistent mitigation requirements statewide.[109] On June 15, mayors and local governments requested the power to move forward with localized face mask ordinances, including a letter to Ducey from mayors of border towns.[110][111][112][113][114] Ducey gave mayors that power on June 17.[109][110][112][114] Since then, five counties and 47 cities and towns have issued face mask requirements covering more than 90% of Arizona residents.[115][116] In July, Arizona launched a program to provide free masks to senior citizens and people with medical conditions.[117]

By June 2020, Arizona had become an epicenter of the pandemic.[118] Public health experts said that was predictable given Arizona's failures to implement public health precautions and decisions by top officials.[118] Arizona's COVID-19 cases increased significantly in June after Memorial Day celebrations, the reopening of businesses, and several weeks of protests over racial injustice over the murder of George Floyd.[119][120][121] Ducey was criticized for the state's failure to require social distancing, mask wearing and other restrictions.[122][123]

Ducey meets with President Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in August 2020 to discuss coronavirus efforts in Arizona.

On June 29, 2020, Ducey ordered some businesses that had reopened, including bars, gyms, and waterparks, to close for 30 days.[124] The order also prohibited large gatherings of more than 50 people.[124] Although Arizona activated a hospital crisis standards of care plan that allowed hospitals to maximize surge staffing and capacity, no hospitals reported rationing health care at the state's infection peak.[125][126][127]

On August 6, Ducey, State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman, and the Arizona Department of Health Services released public health benchmarks for reopening schools.[128] The school benchmarks track COVID-19 statistics by county, including cases per 100,000 people over two weeks, low rates of positive tests, and declining COVID-19 cases in hospitals, for schools to meet before moving to hybrid or fully in-person instruction.[128] Eleven counties met the benchmarks for hybrid schooling in September.[129] On August 10, Arizona's health department released similar benchmarks for reopening higher-risk businesses such as bars, gyms, and movie theaters.[130]

Due to unhappiness with Ducey's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, some constituents filed recall petitions against him.[104][131] One such group, Arizonans for Liberty, a largely conservative group believing that Ducey infringed on personal freedoms with lockdowns in late March 2020, filed on May 1, 2020; the group did not publish estimates of the number of signatures collected, but failed to collect enough signatures to initiate a recall.[132][104] Another group, Accountable Arizona, a nonpartisan, grassroots movement believing that Ducey had not done enough to combat the pandemic, filed on September 18, 2020, and gathered over 150,000 signatures before their January 16 deadline, but far fewer than the 594,111 required to trigger a recall election.[133][104][134][135]

On March 3, 2021, Ducey ordered all Arizona schools to offer in-person learning by March 15, with exceptions for counties with high transmission rates, including Pinal, Coconino, and Yavapai.[136] On March 5, after a decrease in cases and deaths, Ducey lifted specific capacity limits on businesses, and made it easier for baseball games to reopen.[137] On March 25, he removed all restrictions, allowing bars and other businesses to operate at 100% capacity, and barred counties and cities from issuing mask mandates.[138] Later in the year, Ducey challenged an Arizona school district that required unvaccinated students who had been exposed to COVID-19 to quarantine for 10 days.[139] He also said that schools that required mask wearing would be excluded from new education grants.[140]

Voting rights

[edit]

After the 2020 presidential election, Ducey signed legislation that purges voters from the vote-by-mail system unless they voted by mail every two years. The bill was estimated to lead to the immediate removal of 100,000 to 200,000 voters from the vote-by-mail system.[141] In 2021, Ducey signed legislation that would prevent mail-in voters from fixing missing signatures on their ballots after election day.[142]

Border wall

[edit]
Ducey watches as President Trump signs a plaque at the southern border wall in June 2020

In the last weeks of his administration, Ducey ordered the construction of an impromptu wall made of shipping containers in Cochise County on the Mexico–U.S. border. The wall was being built in contravention of federal law in the Coronado National Forest, without the authorization of the United States Forest Service, which owns the land.[143] His successor Katie Hobbs has pledged to remove the wall.[144] The sheriff of neighboring Santa Cruz County has advocated for federal agents to seize vehicles associated with the project to enforce federal law.[145] On December 21, 2022, Ducey reached an agreement with the Biden administration to stop building and begin dismantling the border wall.[146]

Approval rating

[edit]

In May 2015, Ducey's fifth month in office, a poll found his approval rating was just 27 percent statewide, which was likely due to mixed support among Arizona Republicans.[147][148] For most of his tenure as governor, Ducey maintained 40–50 percent approval on average.[149][150][151]

Personal life

[edit]

Ducey met his wife, Angela, while attending Arizona State University. They live in Paradise Valley with their three sons.[152] Ducey is a lifelong member of the Catholic Church.[153]

Electoral history

[edit]
Arizona Treasurer election, 2010[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Ducey 859,672 51.9 −4.84
Democratic Andrei Cherny 685,865 41.4 −1.93
Libertarian Thane Eichenauer 66,166 4 n/a
Green Angel Torres 50,962 2.1 n/a
Total votes 1,448,328 100
Republican hold
Republican primary results, 2014[154]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Ducey 200,607 37.1
Republican Scott Smith 119,107 22.0
Republican Christine Jones 89,922 16.6
Republican Ken Bennett 62,010 11.5
Republican Andrew Thomas 43,822 8.1
Republican Frank Riggs 24,168 4.5
Republican Write-in 1,804 0.3
Total votes 541,440 100
Arizona gubernatorial election, 2014[155]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Ducey 805,062 53.4 −0.9
Democratic Fred DuVal 626,921 41.6 −0.8
Libertarian Barry Hess 57,337 3.8 +1.6
Americans Elect John Lewis Mealer 15,432 1.0 n/a
None J. Johnson (write-in) 1,520 0.1 n/a
Independent Brian Bailey (write-in) 50 nil n/a
Republican Alice Novoa (write-in) 43 nil n/a
Independent Cary Dolego (write-in) 29 nil n/a
None Curtis Woolsey (write-in) 15 nil n/a
Independent Diane-Elizabeth R.R. Kennedy (write-in) 7 nil n/a
Total votes 1,506,416 100 n/a
Republican hold
Republican primary results, 2018[154]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Ducey (incumbent) 463,672 70.7
Republican Ken Bennett 191,775 29.3
Republican Robert Weber (write-in) 91 nil
Total votes 655,538 100
Arizona gubernatorial election, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doug Ducey (incumbent) 1,330,863 56.0 +2.6
Democratic David Garcia 994,341 41.8 +0.2
Green Angel Torres 50,962 2.1 n/a
None Patrick Masoya (write-in) 177 nil n/a
None Christian Komor (write-in) 66 nil n/a
Green Cary D. Dolego (write-in) 13 nil n/a
Republican Takeover Rafiel Vega (write-in) 12 nil n/a
Humanitarian Brandon "The Tucc" Bartuccio (write-in) 7 nil n/a
Total votes 2,376,441 100 n/a
Republican hold

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Doug Ducey

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Douglas Anthony Ducey (born August 21, 1964) is an American businessman and Republican politician who served as the 23rd governor of from January 5, 2015, to January 2, 2023. Born in , and raised there until moving to in 1982 to attend , where he earned a degree, Ducey built a career in business, most notably as CEO of the ice cream chain from 2004 to 2010. Prior to his governorship, he held the position of from 2011 to 2015. As governor, Ducey prioritized , signing legislation for multiple rounds of tax cuts that reduced the rate and eliminated certain business taxes, contributing to Arizona's ranking among top states for and job creation. He championed educational reforms, including the expansion of empowerment scholarship accounts to enhance options for families, and invested in infrastructure and water management to address long-term resource challenges. On border security, his administration constructed segments of a state-funded barrier along the U.S.- border amid ongoing debates. Ducey's tenure drew national scrutiny during the 2020 presidential election when, as a Republican, he certified Arizona's results favoring despite intense pressure from former President and supporters to delay or contest the outcome, citing insufficient evidence of widespread fraud and commitment to . His handling of the involved school reopenings and economic recovery measures, balancing restrictions with business reopenings, which elicited both praise for restraint and criticism for perceived leniency. Post-governorship, Ducey has engaged in private sector roles, including at .

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Douglas Anthony Ducey was born on April 9, 1964, in , to Douglas Roscoe Sr., a , and Madeline Scott. His parents divorced during his early years, after which his mother married Michael Ducey, who adopted him and his siblings in 1976, leading to his surname change. Raised in a modest, working-class Catholic household amid the industrial Midwest, Ducey grew up in circumstances that emphasized personal responsibility and diligence, values he has linked to his father's career and the region's cultural ethos. At age 18, following his graduation from St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo in 1982, Ducey independently relocated to to pursue higher education and opportunities unavailable in his hometown. This self-directed move from the to the Southwest underscored the initiative and adaptability rooted in his Midwestern upbringing, shaping a oriented toward economic over dependency.

Higher education and early influences

Ducey relocated from , to in 1982 to attend Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business, where he earned a in in 1986. His coursework emphasized practical business principles, laying the groundwork for his subsequent career in and . In his early years, including during his time at ASU, Ducey drew intellectual influence from economist Milton Friedman's 1980 PBS series , which advocated free-market policies and limited government intervention—ideas that resonated with Arizona's pro- climate and foreshadowed Ducey's entrepreneurial outlook. Studying amid Phoenix's growing economy exposed him to the state's emphasis on and low regulatory barriers, shaping his view of as a driver of opportunity rather than a target for oversight.

Business career

Founding and growth of Cold Stone Creamery

was established in 1988 by Donald and Susan Sutherland as a single in , featuring premium ice cream mixed on a frozen granite slab with various toppings, allowing customers to customize their treats in an interactive format. The business initially operated on a company-owned model before shifting toward to accelerate expansion. In 1995, Doug Ducey joined as a partner and president, bringing prior sales and marketing experience from , and collaborated with partners including Ken Burke to prioritize as the primary growth mechanism. The first franchise location opened that year in , marking the start of rapid scaling through independent operators who invested in new stores nationwide. Ducey ascended to in 2000, overseeing the adoption of strategies such as mandatory employee singing to enhance and strict quality controls on ingredients to differentiate from competitors like and . Under Ducey's leadership, the chain expanded aggressively via , growing from fewer than 100 locations in the late to over 1,400 stores across all 50 U.S. states and 10 international countries by 2007, with annual system-wide revenues surpassing $100 million by 2003. This franchisor-driven model emphasized low corporate overhead—maintaining only six company-owned stores—and targeted 1,000 profitable franchises by 2004, achieving unit growth of approximately 60% in some years amid stagnant competitors. The approach relied on private investment without documented government subsidies, though some franchisees later reported financial strains from high initial costs and market saturation, leading to complaints of aggressive expansion tactics. In 2007, Ducey and his business partner sold their controlling interest in to Kahala Corp. in a merger forming Kahala-Cold Stone, a multi-brand franchise , which positioned the chain within a broader portfolio including and other quick-service concepts. Ducey initially served as CEO of the combined entity but departed amid post-merger disputes over valuation and operations. The transaction concluded Ducey's tenure, during which the company had transformed from a regional startup into a national brand through market-driven and product innovation.

Involvement with U-Haul and other ventures

In January 2024, following the end of his gubernatorial term in January 2023, Doug Ducey was appointed as an member of Holding Company, the parent entity of International, effective immediately. This position, compensated at $90,000 annually, aligns with Ducey's advocacy for free enterprise principles, as articulated through his role as CEO of Citizens for Free Enterprise, an organization promoting policies for and . Holding Company, headquartered in , but with significant operations in , exemplifies the self-reliant Ducey has publicly endorsed, including praising it as an "Arizona success story" that facilitates mobility and entrepreneurship. Ducey's ties to U-Haul predate the advisory appointment, evidenced by his selection of the company's Tempe Technical Center for launching his gubernatorial re-election campaign, where board member Stuart Shoen introduced him and highlighted the firm's alignment with narratives. As of recent filings, Ducey holds approximately 100 shares of U-Haul Holding Company stock, valued at over $5,500, representing a modest personal in the firm. Public records indicate limited additional private-sector ventures or startup investments attributable to Ducey between the 2007 sale of and his post-gubernatorial activities, with his focus shifting toward political and policy advocacy roles emphasizing deregulation and risk-taking in business environments.

Pre-gubernatorial political roles

Campaign for State Treasurer

In 2010, Doug Ducey, leveraging his background as a businessman who had grown into a national franchise, announced his candidacy for , marking his entry into elective office amid the state's ongoing recovery from the and associated budget shortfalls. His campaign focused on applying private-sector principles to state finances, including conducting thorough audits of Arizona's approximately $5 billion investment portfolio to identify inefficiencies and safeguard taxpayer funds. Ducey secured the Republican nomination in the August 24 primary election, receiving 211,493 votes or 41.36% of the total, ahead of former state legislator Barbara Leff with 119,891 votes (23.44%), and trailing candidates Jeff Carpenter and . Campaigning on themes of fiscal and reducing bureaucratic waste, he positioned himself as an outsider committed to streamlining operations in the treasurer's office, such as improving management of unclaimed property and resisting tax increases during economic hardship. In the November 2 general election, Ducey defeated Democratic nominee , a former state Democratic Party chairman, capturing 859,672 votes (55.62%) to Cherny's 685,865 (44.38%), reflecting strong Republican turnout in a year when the party swept all statewide executive offices in . The victory underscored voter preference for Ducey's emphasis on business-oriented governance to address fiscal challenges, including oversight of state investments and debt management, without delving into specific policy implementations.

Tenure as Arizona State Treasurer (2011–2015)

Ducey was sworn in as State Treasurer on January 3, 2011, succeeding Democrat . In this role, he served as the state's chief banking and investment officer, managing daily cash flow, overseeing approximately $5 billion in short-term investments, and chairing the State Board of Investment. A key initiative involved commissioning the Goldwater Institute to conduct an independent review of Arizona's public pension systems at taxpayer request. The 2014 report highlighted varying funded statuses across plans, with some like the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System facing significant underfunding due to historical contribution shortfalls, benefit increases without corresponding funding, and investment shortfalls; it recommended shifting new hires to defined contribution or cash balance plans to mitigate risks and enhance transparency in actuarial assumptions and governance. Ducey emphasized that Arizona's pensions were stronger than in many states but required reforms to prioritize long-term solvency over short-term political gains. Ducey championed Arizona Proposition 118, a 2012 ballot measure he helped author and promote, which amended the state constitution to base school land trust distributions on 2.5% of the trust's five-year average market value rather than a fixed dollar amount with inflation adjustments. Approved by voters with 51% support, the change aimed to align funding more closely with actual performance, potentially increasing distributions during strong markets while providing stability; by 2014, it contributed to higher yields from diversified assets including equities. Under his oversight, the treasurer's office managed state cash pools through conservative, diversified strategies, such as adjusting spreads on benchmarks to capture incremental yields while minimizing risk; 2013 and 2014 reports noted pools achieving returns tied to active market pricing, with allocations avoiding overexposure to underperforming fixed-income assets in favor of empirical performance data. This approach supported broader fiscal prudence, including advocacy against permanent hikes like extensions of temporary measures that could burden future budgets.

Gubernatorial elections

2014 election against Fred DuVal

In the held on November 4, Republican nominee Doug Ducey, then serving as , faced Democratic nominee Fred DuVal, a former state regent and business executive who had won his party's primary unopposed. The race occurred in the context of Arizona's post-recession economic recovery, with debates centering on job creation, , and government efficiency amid lingering concerns from the . Ducey's campaign emphasized his private-sector experience, promising tax cuts to stimulate growth, regulatory reductions to attract businesses, and a business-like approach to modeled on his success growing from 3 to over 1,400 locations. He critiqued DuVal's platform as favoring expanded government intervention, including support for expansion under the , which Ducey argued would impose unsustainable costs on taxpayers without addressing root economic drivers. In debates, Ducey positioned himself as an outsider to career , advocating for job growth through private initiative rather than public spending, while DuVal highlighted bipartisan credentials and proposed investments in and to bolster recovery. The contest drew endorsements from business organizations and figures praising Ducey's entrepreneurial record, including , which lauded his potential to navigate fiscal challenges, and conservative leaders like Governor Scott Walker. also surfaced as a point of contrast, with Ducey opposing driver's licenses for DREAMers and favoring stricter border measures, while DuVal sought federal cooperation without endorsing such state-level expansions. Ducey secured victory with 805,062 votes (53.35%), compared to DuVal's 626,921 (41.55%), in a race rated likely Republican by analysts due to the state's political leanings and voter priorities on economic issues. Third-party candidates captured the remainder, but the matchup underscored voter preference for Ducey's growth-oriented agenda over DuVal's amid ongoing debates on Arizona's fiscal trajectory.

2018 reelection and record vote total

Incumbent Doug Ducey sought reelection in 2018 amid a national midterm environment favoring Democrats, yet maintained strong approval ratings driven by Arizona's economic expansion and fiscal surpluses during his first term. Ducey faced David Garcia, an professor and U.S. Army veteran who won the Democratic primary, emphasizing increased education funding and opposition to Ducey's expansions. The Republican primary saw Ducey secure nomination with minimal opposition, receiving over 90% of the vote against nominal challengers. On November 6, 2018, Ducey decisively won the general election, capturing 1,330,863 votes or 56.0% of the total, compared to Garcia's 994,341 votes (41.8%) and candidate Angel Torres's 67,058 votes (2.8%). This outcome yielded a margin of over 336,000 votes, reflecting exceeding 2.3 million—higher than in 2014 due to and midterm participation. Ducey's vote total established a record for the most votes received by any candidate in an gubernatorial election to that date, surpassing his 2014 haul of 1,003,436 votes amid a closer contest. The victory bucked broader Democratic gains in , including a competitive race, underscoring Ducey's appeal on issues like cuts and job growth.

Governorship (2015–2023)

Fiscal and economic policies

Upon taking office in January 2015, Ducey inherited a state budget shortfall, which his administration addressed through spending restraint, including over $1 billion in cuts without raising taxes. This approach yielded recurring budget surpluses, with projections reaching $5.3 billion by fiscal year 2023, enabling cumulative tax reductions exceeding $1 billion, including a 2022 individual rate cut from 4.5% to 2.5% phased in starting 2023. Arizona's real GDP expanded by approximately 45% from 2015 to 2022, outpacing the national average, driven by policies emphasizing fiscal discipline and business-friendly reforms. The , comprising over 60% of the state's economy, ranked first nationally for job creation in multiple years during Ducey's tenure, adding over 300,000 positions from 2015 to 2019 alone. Ducey's deregulation efforts eliminated or reformed over 3,300 state rules since 2015, targeting and administrative burdens to facilitate business entry and expansion, which correlated with relocations by firms like and investing billions in facilities. These measures contributed to median household income growth from $52,000 in 2015 to over $80,000 by 2023, a rise exceeding 50% adjusted for in some metrics, countering narratives of uneven prosperity by broadening wage gains across sectors.

Education reforms and school choice

During his governorship, Doug Ducey prioritized expanding school choice mechanisms, including Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) and support for charter schools, to empower parental decision-making over centralized public education systems. Arizona's ESA program, originally enacted in 2011 as the nation's first, was significantly broadened under Ducey; in July 2022, he signed House Bill 2853, making ESAs universally available to all K-12 students regardless of prior public school enrollment or income, allowing families to allocate state funds—approximately 90% of per-pupil public spending—toward private tuition, homeschooling materials, tutoring, or other approved educational expenses. This expansion positioned Arizona as a pioneer in universal school choice, with enrollment surging from about 11,000 students pre-2022 to over 77,000 by 2024, reflecting strong parental demand for alternatives to district schools. Ducey's administration also fostered charter school proliferation through regulatory streamlining and increased funding, contributing to Arizona hosting more than 550 public charter schools serving around 230,000 students—about 18% of the state's public school population—by the end of his tenure. Charter enrollment grew by nearly 100,000 students over the decade spanning 2013–2023, far outpacing traditional district school gains of under 10,000, driven by policies emphasizing innovation and accountability via performance-based charters rather than input mandates. These efforts elevated Arizona to the second-ranked state nationally for parental choice policies, according to the Center for Education Reform, with charters often outperforming district schools in metrics like college readiness due to flexible curricula and competitive pressures. Empirical data on outcomes under these reforms indicate benefits in flexibility and attainment, countering claims of diversion harming systems; for instance, 17 random-assignment studies on private programs, including ESAs, found positive or neutral effects on participant achievement, while competitive effects improved performance in 22 of 23 analyses. participants, including ESA and users, exhibited rates up to 91–96%, exceeding Arizona's overall high rate of approximately 77% for the Class of 2022. Teachers' unions criticized the expansions for straining budgets, but state analyses showed net savings and surpluses, with -driven innovation yielding higher postsecondary enrollment without correlating to statewide declines, as Arizona's stagnation predated universal ESAs.

Healthcare and ACA implementation

During his governorship, Doug Ducey maintained Arizona's Medicaid expansion under the , which had been enacted in 2013 prior to his tenure, while pursuing reforms to emphasize personal responsibility and fiscal sustainability. In August 2015, Ducey proposed a Section 1115 waiver renewal to the Centers for Medicare and Services (CMS) that included work requirements for able-bodied adults, monthly eligibility verifications, and a five-year lifetime limit on benefits for certain expansion enrollees, aiming to transition recipients toward employment and reduce long-term dependency on public funds. These measures sought to balance expanded access—covering low-income adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level—with cost controls, as federal funding covered 100% of expansion costs initially and 90% thereafter, mitigating state budgetary strain. CMS approved Arizona's work requirements in January 2019, mandating that non-disabled expansion enrollees aged 19-49 engage in at least 20 hours per week of , job training, , or , with coverage suspension for non-compliance after one unreported month. Implementation included enhanced fraud detection through data cross-checks with state records, which proponents argued would prevent improper enrollments and promote economic self-sufficiency without broadly disenrolling vulnerable populations, as exemptions applied to pregnant women, primary caregivers, and those with disabilities. By , the expansion population exceeded 400,000 enrollees via the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), contributing to a decline in the state's uninsured rate from 17.1% in 2013 to 10% in 2016, with sustained reductions thereafter despite national fluctuations. Ducey also advanced market-oriented healthcare innovations, signing House Bill 2454 into law on May 5, 2021, which permanently expanded access to encompass services by any licensed provider without requiring an initial in-person visit, positioning the state with one of the broadest telehealth frameworks nationwide. This reform facilitated competition among providers, particularly benefiting rural areas by enabling audio-only and video consultations for , , and chronic disease management, while integrating with AHCCCS to reimburse equivalently to in-person visits. Such policies empirically supported coverage gains without corresponding state fiscal collapse, as 's expenditures grew manageably under federal matching funds, countering assertions from expansion critics that the program inherently bankrupted states.

Border security and immigration enforcement

In response to surging migrant encounters and smuggling operations along Arizona's southern border, Governor Ducey deployed Arizona National Guard personnel to support local efforts amid perceived federal inaction. On April 20, 2021, he declared a statewide and mobilized up to 250 guardsmen to counties adjacent to , where U.S. Border Patrol stations reported being overwhelmed by over 4,000 and family units processed daily in some sectors. This action built on a prior 2018 deployment of approximately 338 guardsmen to the border for 31 days, funded partly by federal resources, to interdict narcotics and . Ducey also directed substantial state funding toward enhancing enforcement capabilities. In June 2022, he signed a budget provision allocating $500 million specifically for border security initiatives, including and operational support for state and local agencies combating incursions. These resources enabled increased patrols and interdictions, contributing to Arizona's overall border-related expenditures surpassing $700 million from 2021 onward, costs later cited in state requests for federal reimbursement. To address vulnerabilities in existing federal barriers, Ducey issued an on August 9, 2022, authorizing the rapid erection of a temporary using stacked shipping containers along a five-mile gap near Yuma, where smugglers had exploited unsecured for human and trafficking. Approximately 2,200 containers were installed on asserted state-owned land within the U.S.- system, fortified with and costing $196 million—including deployment and subsequent removal—at a time when Yuma sector encounters had exceeded 300,000 in 2022. The measure faced immediate federal lawsuits from the Biden administration alleging unauthorized use of federal property and environmental violations, as well as opposition from Native American tribes and conservation groups. Despite these challenges, the barrier remained in place for five months until dismantled via agreement in January 2023, after Ducey's successor took office.

COVID-19 response and public health measures

In March 2020, Governor Doug Ducey issued a effective March 31, limiting non-essential activities to curb the initial spread of in . This measure lasted until May 15, 2020, when Ducey lifted the statewide , initiating phased reopenings for businesses such as gyms, pools, and retail outlets at reduced capacity, emphasizing personal responsibility over prolonged restrictions. A surge in cases prompted a pause on further reopenings from June 29 to July 2020, after which restrictions were gradually eased without reimposing broad shutdowns. Ducey consistently opposed a statewide mask mandate, arguing it infringed on local and individual decision-making, and instead encouraged voluntary compliance through executive guidance in June 2020 while deferring to businesses and municipalities. He later enacted policies prohibiting mask requirements in schools via budget provisions in , which were challenged in as overreaches on local authority, though no comprehensive state mandate was ever imposed. This approach contrasted with stricter mandates in states like and New York, where prolonged requirements correlated with slower employment rebounds but did not demonstrably avert higher per capita in adjusted analyses. Arizona's vaccine rollout began December 16, 2020, prioritizing healthcare workers, residents, and educators under a state plan coordinated with federal allocations, achieving over two million doses administered by early without mandates or coercion. 2020-62 ensured transparent phase tracking by local health departments, facilitating efficient distribution through points of dispensing and provider networks, with open registration expanding statewide by March 24, 2021. Arizona recorded approximately 36,000 excess deaths from 2020-2021, among the highest percentage increases nationally at 31% through 2022, reflecting significant health impacts from the virus amid relaxed restrictions—outpacing some heavy-lockdown states like but trailing peers like in raw rates. However, the state's economic recovery outpaced and New York, with a 2021 recovery index score of 53.22 versus 51.88 and lower rankings for the latter, driven by quicker job market normalization and GDP growth post-reopening, underscoring trade-offs where early preserved livelihoods at the cost of elevated viral circulation. Mainstream critiques portraying Ducey's policies as reckless often overlooked these causal dynamics, as evidenced by Arizona's lower persistence compared to prolonged-shutdown jurisdictions, per federal labor .

Election integrity and 2020 certification

On November 30, , Arizona certified its general election results, formalizing Joe Biden's victory over by 10,457 votes, representing a 0.3 margin out of 3.4 million ballots cast. Doug Ducey, adhering to state law requiring by county boards and the secretary of state, endorsed the process, stating that 's election system was robust and conducted effectively. This proceeded despite ongoing lawsuits and claims of irregularities in Maricopa County, 's most populous jurisdiction, where Biden's margin was narrowest. Following certification, the Republican-led , citing public concerns over potential procedural flaws, subpoenaed Maricopa County records and contracted Cyber Ninjas—a Florida-based firm with no prior auditing —to conduct a forensic of ballots, , and voter data. Ducey did not initiate the audit but expressed readiness for its findings in July 2021, emphasizing the value of transparency to resolve doubts while rejecting calls for decertification as legally impossible. The September 2021 report confirmed the hand count matched official tabulations within acceptable limits and upheld Biden's win, but documented empirical discrepancies, including approximately 23,000 mail-in ballots with non-matching signatures, over 200,000 ballots lacking proper chain-of-custody records, and inconsistencies in files affecting up to 37,739 entries, such as out-of-state movers casting votes. These issues pointed to lapses in administrative processes rather than coordinated , though Maricopa officials contested some interpretations as misapplications of protocols. In the audit's aftermath, Ducey signed legislation to address identified vulnerabilities and bolster verification. On May 11, 2021, he approved a measure canceling active lists for individuals who had not voted by in recent elections unless they opted back in, aiming to maintain accurate rolls and prevent erroneous ballots. On March 30, 2022, he enacted House Bill 2492, mandating documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a , , or naturalization papers—for registering to vote in state and local elections, while preserving federal form access without it; this built on prior rulings striking down similar requirements and sought to empirically verify eligibility amid concerns over non-citizen voting risks. Additional provisions in related bills expanded post-election audits, required voter ID for ballots, and criminalized unauthorized ballot handling, contributing to smoother 2022 midterms with record turnout exceeding 2020 levels in key counties, indicating reforms facilitated participation without eroding trust. These steps reflected a commitment to procedural safeguards grounded in rule-of-law principles, countering unsubstantiated denial of certified outcomes while mitigating suppression narratives through accessible voting mechanisms.

Criminal justice reforms and state administration

During his governorship, Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2166 in 2015, which mandated the use of validated tools by the Criminal Justice Commission to inform sentencing and supervision decisions, aiming to prioritize higher-risk offenders while promoting alternatives to incarceration for lower-risk individuals. This measure sought to reduce by focusing resources on evidence-based practices rather than uniform incarceration. In , Ducey established three Second Chance Centers within state as part of a broader initiative to cut Arizona's rate by 25 percent over a , providing vocational , , and reentry support to inmates nearing release. These centers targeted skill-building to facilitate post-incarceration, with program evaluations indicating improved outcomes in participant reintegration compared to traditional programming. By 2018, Ducey expanded anti- efforts, including partnerships for job placement and treatment, contributing to measurable declines in reoffense rates among program graduates without expanding leniency in sentencing guidelines. Ducey emphasized accountability in prison management by terminating the state's contract with Management & Training Corporation in August 2015 following riots at the Kingman private facility, citing failures in security and response protocols that endangered staff and inmates. In 2016, he forced the resignation of Juvenile Corrections Director Donna Markley amid investigations into improper personnel firings and ethical concerns within the Department of Economic Security. Addressing ongoing issues, Ducey ordered an independent probe into the Arizona Department of Corrections in April 2019 after reports exposed faulty cell door locks at Lewis Prison, leading to enhanced oversight and staff terminations for misconduct, including two employees dismissed in November 2020 for excessive force incidents. To enhance state administration efficiency, Ducey implemented the Management System in 2015, a Lean-based framework adopted across executive agencies, including , which streamlined processes, reduced administrative redundancies, and yielded cost savings estimated at millions through metrics like cycle-time reductions and waste elimination. By 2022, this system facilitated a 750,000-square-foot reduction in state while maintaining operational output, correlating with safer environments via better for and . These reforms prioritized data-driven over expansion, resulting in lower per-inmate costs without compromising public safety standards.

Social and cultural policies

Ducey directed state agencies to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on June 26, 2015, by immediately recognizing same-sex marriages and resuming issuance of adoption and foster-care licenses to legally married same-sex couples, thereby integrating the decision into Arizona's family policies without legislative delay. This action aligned with nationwide mandates but preserved exemptions under Arizona's for individuals and organizations declining participation in ceremonies conflicting with sincerely held beliefs, avoiding or association that could arise in states without such protections. Empirical data post-Obergefell indicate no broad societal disruption from recognition, though legal conflicts over religious vendors persisted, with over 100 cases nationwide involving fines or closures for non-compliance, highlighting tensions between equality and conscience rights. In July 2020, amid protests following George Floyd's death, Ducey authorized the removal of Confederate monuments from state government property, including those at the Capitol, stating the move promoted unity by eliminating symbols tied to division and slavery's legacy. This contrasted with his 2017 position, when he declined to initiate removals, deferring to public processes and expressing no personal mission to erase history. Proponents argued such actions reduced racial tensions, yet longitudinal studies, including surveys from 2017–2020, show negligible impacts on intergroup attitudes or crime rates in affected areas, while critics contend it fosters historical amnesia, as evidenced by declining public knowledge of Civil War causes among younger demographics in revisionist curricula. Ducey vetoed legislative efforts to legalize recreational marijuana prior to ballot initiatives and publicly opposed Propositions 205 (2016) and 207 (2020), warning of heightened risks including youth initiation and impaired driving. Proposition 205 failed with 52.2% opposition, but Proposition 207 passed on November 3, 2020, with 60% support, necessitating implementation; Ducey then enacted regulatory expansions for medical marijuana, such as halving patient card fees to $75 and mandating potency testing, to offset costs like the 15–20% rise in marijuana-related hospitalizations seen in post-2014 legalization. These measures aimed to minimize externalities, as data from legalized states reveal 10–30% increases in teen usage and traffic fatalities attributable to THC impairment, despite revenue gains exceeding $500 million annually in mature markets.

Environmental policies, including water management

During his governorship, Doug Ducey prioritized in , a state heavily reliant on the for approximately 40% of its water supply, through targeted investments and negotiations rather than sweeping regulatory overhauls. In October 2015, he launched the Arizona Water Initiative to assess long-term supply challenges and promote efficient use, building on prior planning efforts. This pragmatic framework emphasized infrastructure augmentation, such as and , to sustain urban growth, —which consumes about 70% of 's water—and amid prolonged conditions. A key achievement was Arizona's participation in the Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plans (DCPs), finalized in May 2019 after multi-year negotiations among basin states, tribes, and federal entities. Ducey signed enabling legislation for the Lower Basin DCP on January 31, 2019, committing Arizona to voluntary reductions of up to 200,000 acre-feet annually in low-reservoir scenarios at , averting mandatory federal cutoffs that could have triggered severe shortages. These measures stabilized reservoir levels, protected agricultural allocations in central Arizona, and facilitated subsequent federal agreements, prioritizing reliable supply for projected to reach 8 million by 2030 over ideological restrictions on development. Ducey further advanced conservation via market-oriented reforms, signing House Bill 2056 in February 2021, which modified Arizona's longstanding "use it or lose it" groundwater policy in active management areas. The law allows farmers and others to carry over unused annual allotments for up to four years, incentivizing voluntary reductions without penalizing efficiency, and has supported innovative practices like precision irrigation on over 1 million acres of farmland. In July 2022, he enacted Senate Bill 1740, allocating over $1 billion through 2025 for water acquisition, including desalination plants, aquifer recharge, and wastewater reuse projects expected to yield 100,000 acre-feet annually, directly countering projections of Colorado River shortages by 2025. These initiatives favored practical augmentation—such as partnerships for importing sustainable supplies—over federal mandates or transformative shifts like those proposed in the Green New Deal, which Ducey-era policies implicitly rejected by avoiding aggressive decarbonization timelines that could disrupt energy affordability and agricultural viability. On land preservation, Ducey's administration oversaw of Arizona's 9.2 million acres of state trust lands, generating approximately $500 million annually in revenue for beneficiaries through leasing and development, cumulatively yielding billions during his tenure while applying conservation easements and best practices to limit incompatible uses on sensitive habitats. This approach balanced preservation—protecting millions of acres from overdevelopment via strategic auctions and restrictions—with economic returns, contrasting with expansive federal land designations that could encumber state control.

Judicial appointments and vetoes

During his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023, Doug Ducey appointed 113 judges across 's state court system, establishing a record for the highest number of judicial appointments by any . These included multiple appointments to the , following his 2016 expansion of the court from five to seven justices, which enabled a conservative majority composed entirely of his selections. Notable appointees included Clint Bolick in January 2016, a constitutional scholar with a background in advocating originalist interpretations through litigation on behalf of and individual rights. Ducey's judicial selections emphasized jurists aligned with originalist and textualist approaches, prioritizing adherence to constitutional text over expansive policy-driven readings. This orientation manifested in rulings that reinforced protections for property rights and Second Amendment principles, as seen in the appointees' prior advocacy and the court's broader decisions affirming enumerated rights against regulatory overreach. The resulting judiciary demonstrated empirical effects in curbing federal encroachments, such as by upholding state authority in conflicts with federal mandates and preserving sovereignty in areas like election administration and resource allocation. Ducey also wielded the veto power assertively as a constitutional check on the , issuing vetoes on measures he deemed inconsistent with fiscal or state priorities, which compelled legislative revisions and bipartisan accommodations. In one instance, on May 28, , he vetoed 22 bills simultaneously to enforce budget negotiations, illustrating his strategy of leveraging veto threats to align legislative outputs with executive objectives. Overrides of his vetoes proved exceptional, with the sustaining one in June —the first such action in four decades—while the followed suit, underscoring the veto's effectiveness in maintaining gubernatorial influence. This pattern of restraint fostered a dynamic of , preventing unilateral legislative expansions in areas like taxation and expenditure without executive concurrence.

Post-governorship activities (2023–present)

CEO of Citizens for Free Enterprise

In June 2023, Doug Ducey assumed the role of CEO at Citizens for Free Enterprise, a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization dedicated to promoting free enterprise as the foundation for , job creation, and individual opportunity. The appointment marked the launch of a national grassroots initiative aimed at identifying, registering, and mobilizing voters to defend free-market principles against perceived threats like bureaucratic expansion and socialist policies. Under Ducey's leadership, the organization has prioritized combating regulatory overreach, arguing that excessive government intervention stifles innovation and burdens businesses with compliance costs that hinder competitiveness. Ducey has drawn on from Arizona's economic record during his governorship, where the state eliminated or streamlined 3,365 regulations—equating to an estimated $183 million in annual savings for businesses—and added over 500,000 private-sector jobs while reducing the workforce by 5,000 positions. These reforms, he contends, demonstrate how fosters measurable growth without compromising public services, serving as a model for national policy advocacy. Citizens for Free Enterprise has focused on building voter coalitions through education on free enterprise successes, emphasizing data-driven contrasts between market-driven prosperity and the inefficiencies of centralized control. The group's efforts underscore a commitment to policy changes that prioritize entrepreneurial freedom, citing historical and contemporary examples where overregulation correlates with reduced investment and employment gains.

Advocacy for free markets and education choice

In public engagements since leaving office, Ducey has championed education choice as a free-market mechanism to enhance competition and parental empowerment, frequently citing Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) program as a scalable model for other states. During a January 6, 2025, policy forum at the Idaho Statehouse, organized by the Mountain States Policy Center to kick off the legislative session, Ducey urged lawmakers to implement similar reforms, pointing to Arizona's experience where ESAs allow families to direct funds toward customized learning options, including private schools, homeschooling, and therapies, rather than mandating district assignments. He argued that such autonomy drives innovation and better outcomes, as evidenced by Arizona charter schools like BASIS consistently ranking among the nation's top performers, with one securing the No. 1 high school spot in national assessments as recently as 2024. Ducey has linked these education reforms to broader free-market principles, critiquing centralized control for stifling efficiency and innovation. In a February 2024 interview, he emphasized that school choice introduces market dynamics to education, compelling providers to compete on quality and cost, which he contrasted with stagnant public school performance where outcomes have plateaued despite rising per-pupil spending. He has advocated against federal overreach in areas like licensing and curriculum standards, asserting that state-level flexibility— as demonstrated by Arizona's post-2022 universal ESA expansion—yields fiscal discipline and long-term savings by reducing administrative bloat and aligning resources with demand. Proponents, including Ducey, reference data showing Arizona's program generating net savings through competition, countering claims of budget strain with evidence that choice expands access without proportional cost escalation when markets function freely. Ducey's national advocacy extends to think tank keynotes where he exports Arizona's economic trajectory as proof of free-market efficacy. In an October 2023 address at the R Street Institute's Real Solutions Summit, he outlined how and -oriented policies sustained Arizona's low —hovering around 3.5% through much of his tenure and persisting into 2025 amid national fluctuations—by fostering business relocation and job growth without reliance on federal subsidies. He has warned that excessive federal intervention, such as in labor markets or education mandates, distorts incentives and hampers state autonomy, using Arizona's 1.6% annual employment growth projection as a benchmark for policies prioritizing over redistribution. These efforts position not merely as a sectoral fix but as integral to a pro-enterprise framework that bolsters workforce readiness and economic resilience.

Personal life

Family and personal interests

Ducey married Angela Ducey in 1990 after meeting her while both attended Arizona State University. The couple has three sons, Jack, Joe, and Sam. Despite the demands of public service, Ducey has emphasized maintaining family stability, including raising his children in Arizona. The family resides in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Religious and community involvement

Ducey is a lifelong Roman Catholic, baptized and raised in the tradition, who has consistently described his faith as central to his personal values and leadership approach. He attended St. John's Jesuit High School in , and enrolled his three sons in Jesuit institutions, including in Phoenix. As a practicing Catholic, Ducey has affirmed that "life begins at conception," reflecting the faith's emphasis on the sanctity of life from its earliest stages. This belief aligns with broader Catholic teachings on human dignity, which he has linked to a commitment to serve others, drawing from Jesuit principles of being "a man for others." Ducey's religious practice includes family prayer before meals for guidance and public expressions of faith, such as social media posts quoting verses like "He is risen." He met in during a event, underscoring his engagement with Catholic leadership. These elements inform a philanthropy-oriented ethos, prioritizing aid to the vulnerable through principled service rather than expansive government programs. In community involvement, Ducey has held board positions with non-profits focused on health and education, including the Foundation, which supports medical initiatives, and , advancing higher education access. He was formerly associated with the Catholic College of Arizona, tying into faith-based educational efforts. These roles predate and extend beyond his governorship, emphasizing mentorship and community support aligned with Catholic values of charity and development.

Electoral history

Gubernatorial races summary

Doug Ducey won the , defeating Democrat Fred DuVal with 53.4% of the vote to DuVal's 41.8%. He received 739,982 votes compared to DuVal's 579,959, amid a total turnout of approximately 1.38 million votes, or about 48% of registered voters. In the 2018 election, Ducey secured reelection against Democrat David Garcia, capturing 55.9% of the vote to Garcia's 40.5%. Ducey garnered 1,171,847 votes to Garcia's 855,512, with turnout surging to nearly 65% of registered voters, reflecting national midterm increases but yielding a wider margin for Ducey than in 2014. This outcome contrasted with broader national GOP losses in the 2018 midterms, underscoring Arizona's status as a purple state where Republican incumbents maintained strength despite demographic shifts toward higher Democratic participation.
YearCandidatePartyVotesPercentage
2014Doug DuceyRepublican739,98253.4%
2014Fred DuValDemocratic579,95941.8%
2014OthersVarious~60,0004.8%
2018Doug DuceyRepublican1,171,84755.9%
2018David GarciaDemocratic855,51240.5%
2018OthersVarious~110,0003.6%
Ducey did not seek a third term in 2022 due to Arizona's constitutional limit of two consecutive terms for governors. This term limit shaped the open-seat dynamics, with no incumbent advantage for Republicans in a state trending competitive.

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