View source for Trent Franks

{{Short description|American politician (born 1957)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Trent Franks
| image               = Trent Franks, official portrait, 114th Congress (mid crop).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2015
| state               = [[Arizona]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2003
| term_end            = December 8, 2017
| predecessor         = [[Bob Stump]] (redistricted)
| successor           = [[Debbie Lesko]]
| constituency        = {{ushr|AZ|2|C}} (2003–2013)<br>{{ushr|AZ|8|C}} (2013–2017)
| state_house1        = Arizona
| district1           = 20th
| alongside1          = [[Debbie McCune Davis]]
| term_start1         = January 1985
| term_end1           = January 1987
| predecessor1        = Glenn Davis
| successor1          = Bobby Raymond
| birth_name          = Harold Trent Franks
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1957|6|19}}
| birth_place         = [[Uravan, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Josephine Franks|1980}}
| children            = 2
| education           = [[Ottawa University|Ottawa University, Arizona]] (attended)
}}
'''Harold Trent Franks'''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-us-congress-concern-on-gauri-lankesh-murder-threat-to-kancha-ilaiah-1763322|title=In US Congress, Concern Over Gauri Lankesh Murder, Threat To Kancha Ilaiah|work=NDTV|date=October 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/greeley-daily-tribune/129428004/|title=Briggsdale news|work=Greeley Daily Tribune|date=May 26, 1976}}</ref> (born June 19, 1957) is an American businessman and former politician who served as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|Arizona|8}} from 2003 to 2017 (numbered as the [[Arizona's 2nd congressional district|2nd district]] from 2003 to 2013). He is a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. During his tenure, Franks served as vice chairman of the [[United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces]] and chairman of the [[United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties]].

In December 2017, the [[United States House Committee on Ethics|House Ethics Committee]] announced that it would investigate allegations of  [[sexual harassment]] against Franks.<ref name="cnn-resign">{{cite news | publisher = CNN | title = Arizona GOP Rep. Trent Franks to resign following sexual harassment claim |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/politics/trent-franks-resigns/index.html | date = December 7, 2017 | first1 = MJ | last1 = Lee | first2 = Deirdre | last2 = Walsh | first3 = Juana | last3= Summers | first4 = Eli | last4 = Watkins}}</ref> Franks had repeatedly asked two female staffers to bear his children as [[surrogacy|surrogate mothers]], and allegedly offered one of them $5 million to carry his child and retaliated against her when she declined.<ref name="nyt-resigned">{{cite news | work = New York Times | date = December 8, 2017 | first = Katie | last = Rogers | title = Trent Franks, Accused of Offering $5 Million to Aide for Surrogacy, Resigns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/us/politics/trent-franks-sexual-surrogacy-harassment.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | work = Washington Post | date = December 8, 2017 | first = Mike | last = DeBonis | title = Rep. Trent Franks offered $5 million to aide to bear his child, resigns amid inquiry |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/rep-trent-franks-facing-ethics-investigation-says-he-will-resign-immediately/2017/12/08/bec2f630-dc55-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html}}</ref><ref name="apnews1">{{Cite news | publisher = Associated Press | title = Ex-aide: Rep. Franks offered $5m to carry his child |url=https://apnews.com/8eb4e03d95d4471881d8a7f7de1c8671/Ex-aide:-Franks-offered-$5m-to-carry-his-child | date = December 9, 2017 | first = Juliet | last = Linderman}}</ref><ref name="politico-fretted">{{cite news | work = Politico | title = Female aides fretted Franks wanted to have sex to impregnate them | first1 = Rachael | last1= Bade | first2=Jake | last2=Sherman |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/08/trent-franks-sex-surrogacy-impregnate-287808 | date = December 8, 2017}}</ref> The women feared that Franks wanted to impregnate them sexually as part of the [[surrogacy]] process.<ref name="nyt-resigned"/><ref name="politico-fretted"/> Franks acknowledged discussing surrogacy with the aides but denied the other allegations; he resigned from Congress immediately after the [[ethics]] investigation was announced, blaming his situation on "the current cultural and media climate."<ref name="nyt-resigned"/><ref name="nyt-resign">{{cite news | work = New York Times | title = House Republican Trent Franks Resigns Amid Harassment Investigation | first = Nicholas | last = Fandos | date = December 7, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/us/politics/trent-franks-house-member-resigns.html}}</ref><ref name="frat-house">{{cite news | work = Politico | title = The Frat House of Representatives |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/22/congress-frat-house-ethics-scandals-417465 | first1= John | last1 = Bresnahan | first2 = Rachael | last2 = Bade | date = February 22, 2018}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Franks was born in [[Uravan, Colorado]], a uranium mining [[company town]] which became a [[ghost town]]. Franks is the son of Juanita and Edward Taylor Franks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/franks.htm|title=Trent Franks ancestry|website=freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com}}</ref> He was born with a [[cleft lip and palate]]. After his parents separated, Franks took care of his younger siblings.<ref name="GT">{{cite web| last =Birhanemaskel| first =Millete| title =Congressman from Arizona creates buzz in Briggsdale| newspaper=[[Greeley Tribune]]| date =November 20, 2002|url=http://www.greeleytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=GR&Date=20021120&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=211200001&Ref=AR&SectionCat=FRONTPAGE| access-date =March 6, 2010 }}
</ref> Franks graduated from [[Briggsdale, Colorado|Briggsdale High School]] in [[Colorado]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.classmates.com/directory/public/memberprofile/list.htm?regId=476953721 |access-date=September 29, 2009 |newspaper=Classmates.com |title=Trent Franks}}</ref>

In 1987, he completed a course of study at the non-accredited Utah's [[National Center for Constitutional Studies]], formerly known as the Freemen Institute.<ref>{{Cite news|agency =[[Associated Press]]| title =Primaries crowded for redrawn 2nd Congressional District| newspaper =[[Kingman Daily Miner]]| date =August 12, 2002|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NaU0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=tlIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4877,3632056&dq=trent+franks+ottawa+university&hl=en| access-date =March 6, 2010 }}</ref> For one year, from 1989 to 1990, he attended the Arizona campus of [[Ottawa University]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Vote-USA.org |access-date=September 29, 2009 |url=http://www.vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?Id=AZFranksTrent |title=Trent Franks }}</ref>

== Early career ==
After high school, Franks bought a [[drilling rig]] and moved to Texas to drill wells with his best friend and his younger brother. He moved to [[Arizona]] in 1981, where he continued to drill wells.

=== Arizona House of Representatives ===
In 1984, while working as an engineer for an oil and gas royalty-purchasing firm, Franks began his political career by running in a heavily Democratic district for a seat in the [[Arizona House of Representatives]], against incumbent Democrat [[Glenn Davis (politician)|Glenn Davis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=540797 |title=Our Campaigns – AZ State House 20 Race – Nov 06, 1984}}</ref> Franks campaigned on a conservative "[[Reagan Republican]]" platform emphasizing stronger child protection laws as well as the overturning of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=[[Mohave Daily Miner]]|title=Republicans hold fast to Senate control|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wrMOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sYIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065,668571&dq=trent-franks|date=November 7, 1984|access-date=May 24, 2020|agency=[[United Press International]]|via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> He narrowly won the election by 155 votes amid that year's massive national Republican wave. In the state legislature, Franks served as Vice-Chairman of the Commerce Committee and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Child Protection and Family Preservation.

In November 1988, Franks ran again for a legislative seat, moving to District 18 shortly before the filing deadline. He lost that election.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Legislature results are split|newspaper=[[Mohave Daily Miner]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z3gLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dFMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5983,430253&dq=trent-franks|date=November 6, 1986|access-date=May 24, 2020|via=[[Google News]]}}</ref>

=== Arizona governor's cabinet ===
In January 1987, he was appointed by Republican Governor [[Evan Mecham]] to head the Arizona Governor's Office for Children, a cabinet-level division of the governor's office responsible for overseeing and coordinating state policy and programs for Arizona's children.

Franks then founded the Arizona [[Family Research Institute]], a [[nonprofit organization]] affiliated with [[Focus on the Family]]. He was the executive director of the organization for four and a half years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IZAOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WIEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3583,2247028&dq=trent-franks |work=Prescott Courier |date= September 11, 1988 |title=Campaign called 'dirtiest' in recent memory |agency=[[Associated Press]] |page=1}}</ref> He was successful in the Republican primary but lost in the November general election.

===Political activism===
In 1992, when Franks was chairman of Arizonans for Common Sense, one of the organization's efforts was a constitutional amendment on the November 1992 ballot to "protect most [[fetus|preborn children]] in Arizona from [[abortion]] on demand."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uxwOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qH0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2066,7041640&dq=trent-franks |work=[[Prescott Courier]] |date=June 29, 1992 |title=Abortion ruling bodes ill for Arizona |agency=[[Associated Press]] |page=1B|via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> The initiative lost, [[List of Arizona ballot propositions#1992|getting about 35 percent of the votes cast]].

In August 1995, Arizonans for an Empowered Future, of which Franks was chairman, launched an initiative campaign to amend the state constitution, replacing the graduated state [[income tax]] with a [[flat tax|flat]] 3.5 percent rate, and allowing parents to deduct the costs of private school tuition. That effort was also unsuccessful. Later that year, Franks, became the original author and leading proponent of the successful passage of the Tuition Tax Credit Bill in Arizona.<ref>{{Cite news|first=William F.|last=Rawson|title=Arizona initiative seeks flat tax, credits for private school tuition|newspaper=[[Kingman Daily Miner]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rmkLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PFMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4207,371289&dq=trent-franks|date=August 2, 1995|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> The initiative was not one of those appearing on the [[List of Arizona ballot propositions#1996|ballot in 1996]].

In 1997, Trent Franks, along with his brother, Lane Franks, founded Liberty Petroleum Corporation, a petroleum exploration company.<ref>{{cite news|first=Antonia Noori|last=Farzan|title=Trent Franks' Net Worth Has Skyrocketed Since He Got Into Office|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/trent-franks-net-worth-wealthiest-members-of-congress-trinity-petroleum-9395850|newspaper=[[Phoenix New Times]]|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=March 18, 2021}}</ref> That year, Franks also worked as a consultant and surrogate speaker for conservative activist [[Pat Buchanan]]'s presidential campaign.

==U.S. House of Representatives==

===Elections===
[[File:Trent Franks by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|Franks at the 2011 Veterans Day parade in Phoenix, Arizona]]

==== 1994 ====
{{See also|1994 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 4}}
Franks ran for {{ushr|AZ|4}} in 1994, after incumbent U.S. Representative [[Jon Kyl]] decided to run for the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]. He lost to [[John Shadegg]], 43–30%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=249498|title=Our Campaigns – AZ District 4 – R Primary Race – Sep 13, 1994|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2002 ====
{{See also|2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 2}}
Following the 2000 census,<ref>{{cite news |work=The Daily Courier |date=September 12, 2000 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xUwLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=11IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6873,1999344&dq=trent-franks |title=Congress: Grijalva, Franks now front-runners in new districts |first=Scott |last=Thomsen |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> [[Arizona]] got two additional seats.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date= September 15, 2002 |title=In heavily GOP congressional district in Arizona, Trent Franks wins Republican nomination |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F86D7A45F211707&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}</ref> Franks' home in Glendale was drawn into the [[Arizona's 2nd congressional district|2nd district]]. That district had previously been the 3rd District, represented by 13-term incumbent Republican [[Bob Stump]], who was not running for reelection. The initial favorite in the race was Lisa Jackson Atkins, Stump's longtime chief of staff, whom Stump had endorsed as his successor. Atkins had long been very visible in the district (in contrast to her more low-key boss) to the point that many thought she was the district's representative. Franks narrowly defeated Atkins in the seven-candidate Republican primary, 28–26%, a difference of just 797 votes.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Daily Courier |date=September 2, 2002 |title=Many Arizona House candidates financing own primary campaigns |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vEwLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=11IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6776,365885&dq=trent-franks |agency=[[Associated Press]] |first=Robert |last=Gehrke }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1042|title=Our Campaigns – AZ District 2 – R Primary Race – Sep 10, 2002|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> He won the November 2002 general election, defeating Democrat Randy Camacho, 60–37%.<ref name="Widening">{{cite news|last=Hedler|first=Ken|date=December 18, 2002|title=Franks seeks widening of school tax credits|work=Kingman Daily Miner|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C4ALAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O1MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6856,8863189&dq=trent-franks}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1041|title=Our Campaigns – AZ District 2 Race – Nov 05, 2002|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2004 ====
{{See also|2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 2}}
Franks faced competition in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary from the more moderate businessman Rick Murphy. Franks defeated him 64–36%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4439|title=Our Campaigns – AZ – District 02 – R Primary Race – Sep 07, 2004|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> He won re-election to a second term, by defeating Camacho in a rematch, 59–38%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3994|title=Our Campaigns – AZ – District 02 Race – Nov 02, 2004|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2006 ====
{{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 2}}
He won re-election to a third term with 59% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=201451|title=Our Campaigns – AZ – District 02 Race – Nov 07, 2006|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2008 ====
{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 2}}
He won re-election to a fourth term with 59% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=323118|title=Our Campaigns – AZ – District 02 Race – Nov 04, 2008|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2010 ====
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 2}}
Franks was again challenged in the Republican primary. However, he easily defeated Charles Black, 81–19%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=512831|title=Our Campaigns – AZ District 02 – R Primary Race – Aug 24, 2010|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> He won re-election to a fifth term with 65% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=487767|title=Our Campaigns – AZ – District 02 Race – Nov 02, 2010|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2012 ====
{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}
For his first five terms, Franks represented a vast district encompassing most of northwestern Arizona from the West Valley to the [[California]] border, including [[Lake Havasu City]] and the [[Grand Canyon]]. While the district appeared rural, the bulk of its population was in the West Valley, which had dominated the district since it was drawn into what was then the 3rd in 1967. The district appeared to be gerrymandered because of a narrow tendril connecting the Hopi reservation to the rest of the district. However, due to longstanding disputes between the [[Hopi]] and [[Navajo]], it had long been believed the two tribes should be in separate districts.

However, after the 2010 census and redistricting, Franks' district was renumbered as the 8th District, and reduced to essentially the [[Maricopa County]] portion of the old 2nd. It included most of Glendale, as well as all of [[Sun City, Arizona|Sun City]] and [[Surprise, Arizona|Surprise]], almost all of [[Peoria, Arizona|Peoria]], and much of western Phoenix. As evidence of how much the West Valley had dominated the district, Franks retained 92 percent of his former constituents, even as he lost 85 percent of his old district's land.<ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/04/1022899/-Arizona-Redistricting-Commission-releases-draft-map Arizona Redistricting: Commission releases draft map]. [[Daily Kos]], October 4, 2011</ref> He was challenged in the Republican primary by Tony Passalacqua, whom Franks defeated easily, 83–17%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=748165|title=Our Campaigns – AZ District 08 – R Primary Race – Aug 28, 2012|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> The new 8th was no less Republican than the old 2nd, and Franks won a sixth term with 63% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=706821|title=Our Campaigns – AZ – District 08 Race – Nov 06, 2012|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==== 2014 ====
{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}
[[File:Trent Franks & Paul Gosar (15088251553).jpg|right|thumb|Congressman Franks speaking at a rally in November 2014]]
Franks won his party's election in the Republican primary on August 26, 2014. Facing no Democratic opponent in the general election, Franks won re-election with over 75% of the vote over Stephen Dolgos, the [[Americans Elect]] candidate.

==== 2016 ====
{{See also|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}
Franks faced a Republican primary challenge from Clair Van Steenwyck, but won renomination with over 71% of the vote. He again faced no Democratic opponent in the general election, and defeated [[Arizona Green Party]] nominee Mark Salazar 68.5%–31.5%.

==== 2024 ====
{{See also|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}
After his resignation, Franks was succeeded by fellow Republican [[Debbie Lesko]] in a [[2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election|special election]]. Lesko would retire ahead of the 2024 election, leaving the seat open. On November 1, 2023, Franks announced he would run in the Republican primary to regain his old seat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=Infamous former lawmaker Trent Franks enters congressional race |url=https://kjzz.org/content/1861771/infamous-former-lawmaker-trent-franks-enters-congressional-race |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=KJZZ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=Ex-Rep. Trent Franks, who offered aide $5million to have his child, is running for Congress again |url=https://apnews.com/article/arizona-congress-trent-franks-55018bb3688e9688fe48e9a15ded3ef0 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> He finished in fourth place, and the primary was won by [[Abraham Hamadeh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://azmirror.com/briefs/hamadeh-beats-masters-toma-in-republican-primary-for-arizonas-8th-congressional-district/ |title=Hamadeh beats Masters, Toma in Republican primary for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District |website=azmirror.com|last1=Sievers |first1=Caitlin |last2=Gomez |first2=Gloria Rebecca |date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>

===Political positions===
In 2009, ''[[National Journal]]'' ranked Franks among the "most conservative" members of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web| last =Roff| first =Peter| title =The Most Conservative and Most Liberal Members of Congress| publisher =[[U.S. News & World Report]]| date =February 26, 2010|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/peter-roff/2010/02/26/the-most-conservative-and-most-liberal-members-of-congress.html| access-date =March 7, 2010 }}</ref> He was a member of the [[Republican Study Committee]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Member List|url=https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|access-date=November 17, 2017|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222002744/http://rsc-walker.house.gov/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Online gaming====
In 2006, he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the [[Goodlatte]]-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411:|title=Bill Summary & Status – 109th Congress (2005–2006) – H.R.4411 – THOMAS (Library of Congress)|date=July 13, 2006|access-date=August 7, 2008|archive-date=November 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125231725/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411:|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2018}} and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777:|title=Bill Summary & Status – 109th Congress (2005–2006) – H.R.4777 – THOMAS (Library of Congress)|date=September 22, 2006|access-date=August 7, 2008|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018013459/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777:|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=December 2018}}

====Homeland security====
On October 14, 2009, Franks joined with three other members of Congress in calling for the investigation of the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] (CAIR) over allegations of trying to plant "spies" based on a CAIR memo indicating that the group planned to "develop national initiatives such as [[Lobby day]]" and place "Muslim interns in Congressional offices." The request followed the publication of the book ''[[Muslim Mafia (book)|Muslim Mafia]]''. Representative [[Sue Myrick]] had written the foreword, which characterized CAIR as subversive and aligned with terrorists.<ref name=co>[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/topstories/story/1047173.html Doyle, Michael, "Judge: Controversial 'Muslim Mafia' used stolen papers"], ''[[Charlotte Observer]]'', November 10, 2009, accessed November 17, 2009{{dead link|date=March 2014}}</ref> CAIR countered that these initiatives are extensively used by all advocacy groups and accused Franks and his colleagues of intending to intimidate [[Islam in the United States|American Muslims]] who "take part in the political process and exercise their rights."<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. |date=October 14, 2009 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/52379-house-republicans-accuse-muslim-group-of-trying-to-plant-spies/ |title=House Republicans accuse Muslim group of trying to plant spies |first=Jordy |last=Yager }}</ref>

====Taxes====
Franks signed the [[Americans for Tax Reform#Taxpayer Protection Pledge|Taxpayer Protection Pledge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725024055/http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851|url-status=dead|title=Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers|archive-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> In 2010, Franks voted against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]. He received high approval ratings from the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.<ref>{{cite web|title=Representative Trent Franks's Ratings and Endorsements on Issue: Business and Consumers|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/28399/trent-franks/11|work=[[Project Vote Smart]]|access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref> In November 2011, he voted to pass H.R. 2930, which authorizes [[crowdfunding]] for small businesses.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

In 2009, Franks signed a pledge sponsored by [[Americans for Prosperity]] promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax/ |title=No Climate tax &#124; AFP |access-date=March 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219061216/http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax/ |archive-date=February 19, 2015 }}/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/franks.pdf</ref>

====Criticism of the Obama administration====
He opposed the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], saying "the thought of Americans' health care decisions being put into the hands of an unimaginably large bureaucracy is a frightening prospect." He was not supported by [[American Public Health Association]] or the [[Children's Health Fund]].<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/28399/trent-franks/38 Trent Franks' Ratings and Endorsements on Issue: Health and Health Care] votesmart.org 2011</ref>

In September 2009, he called President [[Barack Obama]] an "enemy of humanity" with his spokesperson later clarifying the remarks were in response to Obama's position on abortion.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 29, 2009|title=Rep. Trent Franks: Obama is "Enemy of Humanity"|first=Brian|last=Montopoli|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rep-trent-franks-obama-is-enemy-of-humanity/ |website=[[CBS News]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107220202/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5350756-503544.html |archive-date=November 7, 2011 }}</ref>

"A president that has lost his way that badly, that has no ability to see the image of God in these little fellow human beings, if he can't do that right, then he has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity," Franks said to the "How to Take Back America" conference.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Spillius|first=Alex|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/6245200/Republican-Trent-Franks-calls-Barack-Obama-an-enemy-of-humanity.html|title=Republican Trent Franks calls Barack Obama an 'enemy of humanity'|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=March 26, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

====Abortion====
In a 2010 interview, discussing the legacy of [[slavery]] which Franks described as a "crushing mark on America's soul," the congressman said, "Half of all black children are aborted. Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by the policies of slavery."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2010/02/26/franks_2/|title=GOP's Trent Franks: Abortion worse than slavery for blacks|first=Mike|last=Madden|work=Salon|date=February 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=459Dny0aabI#t=5m43s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/459Dny0aabI| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Representative Trent Franks |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 22, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/a-tip-on-slavery-holocaust-talk/ | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=A Tip on Slavery, Holocaust Talk | first=Mark | last=Leibovich | date=February 26, 2010 | access-date=May 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Trent Franks: Abortion Is Worse for Blacks Than Slavery Was|first= David|last=Wiegel|url=http://washingtonindependent.com/77839/trent-franks-abortion-is-worse-for-blacks-than-slavery-was |newspaper=[[The Washington Independent]]  |date=February 26, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823053640/http://washingtonindependent.com/77839/trent-franks-abortion-is-worse-for-blacks-than-slavery-was |archive-date=August 23, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fabian |first=Jordan |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/62712-goper-abortion-taking-worse-toll-on-blacks-than-slavery/ |title=GOPer: Abortion taking worse toll on blacks than slavery|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=February 26, 2010|access-date=August 22, 2010}}</ref>

In June 2013, he proposed a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks, without exceptions for [[rape]] and [[incest]]. He stirred controversy when saying that "the incidents of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low." He later clarified, "Pregnancies from rape that result in abortion after the beginning of the sixth month are very rare."<ref>{{cite web|first1=Ashley|last1=Killough|first2=Deirdre|last2=Walsh|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/12/rep-franks-tries-to-clear-up-rape-comment/?iref=allsearch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222140101/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/12/rep-franks-tries-to-clear-up-rape-comment/?iref=allsearch|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2014|title=Rep. Franks tries to clear up rape comment|website=[[CNN]]|date=June 12, 2013|access-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref> The bill passed by a vote of 228–196.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Parkinson|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/06/house-passes-bill-banning-abortion-after-20-weeks/|title=House Passes Bill Banning Abortion After 20 Weeks|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=June 18, 2013}}</ref>

In 2017, he again proposed the same bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks without exceptions for rape and incest. The bill passed by a vote of 237–189.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 19, 2013|title=Arizona tribes applaud Keep the Promise passage|url=https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2013/09/19/arizona-tribes-applaud-keep-the-promise-act-passage/|access-date=July 27, 2020|newspaper=The Arizona Daily Independent|language=en-US}}</ref>

Franks presided over a hearing to ban abortions after 20 weeks in the [[District of Columbia]], in which he did not allow D.C.'s lone [[Delegate (United States Congress)|delegate]] and [[Member of Congress]], Congresswoman [[Eleanor Holmes Norton]], to testify. In doing so, he said Congress has the authority to "exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever" in the District, even though the heavily [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democratic]] district is strongly opposed to the ban.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Pershing|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/house-panel-approves-ban-on-dc-abortions-after-20-weeks/2012/07/18/gJQA9vuWuW_story.html0|title=House panel approves ban on D.C. abortions after 20 weeks|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 18, 2012|access-date=March 18, 2021}}</ref>

Franks has also been involved in the founding of a [[crisis pregnancy center]] in Tempe, Arizona.<ref name="nationalreview.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/351426/trent-franks-pro-life-warrior-katrina-trinko|website=[[National Review Online]]|first=Katrina|last=Trinko|title=Trent Franks, Pro-Life Warrior|date=June 19, 2013}}</ref> In the past, Franks has picketed abortion clinics but has ceased to do so stating in a June 2013 interview that "It became clear to me that I could be more effective by trying to do something to light a candle rather than curse the darkness."<ref name="nationalreview.com"/>

====Other====
[[File:Trent Franks (29494349983).jpg|thumb|Franks in 2016]]
During the 2008 campaign, Franks stated that he is [[global warming skepticism|skeptical]] about [[global warming]] and other commonly accepted theories supported by the scientific community. Franks is a past chairman of the Children's Hope Scholarship Foundation.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 22, 2013|title=Congressman Trent Franks Scheduled to Speak at Northwest Christian Commencement Ceremony|volume=3|newspaper=Northwest Christian School Newsletter|issue=22|location=Phoenix, Arizona|url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs103/1102813168757/archive/1113440526734.html|access-date=October 21, 2013|quote=[...] Trent Franks is past Chairman of the Children's Hope Scholarship Foundation and a Republican Member of The United States Congress. [...]}}</ref>

He opposes [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web| agency =[[Associated Press]]| title =McCain courting Christian conservatives| website=[[NBC News]]| date =February 14, 2007|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17146257| access-date =March 7, 2010 }}</ref>

Franks opposes [[gun control]]. The interest group [[Gun Owners of America]] has given Franks high approval ratings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/28399/trent-franks/37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622055520/http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/28399/trent-franks/37|url-status=live|archive-date=June 22, 2013|title=Representative Trent Franks's Special Interest Group Ratings|website=[[Project VoteSmart]]}}</ref> In 2011, he voted to pass the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act.<ref>{{Cite web|title=H.R.822 – 112th Congress (2011–2012): National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/822|last=Stearns|first=Cliff|date=November 17, 2011|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> Franks has also been active with [[Operation Smile]].<ref name="op-smile">{{cite web|last1=Alfano|first1=Sean|title=Jessica Simpson Snubs Bush|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jessica-simpson-snubs-bush/|website=[[CBS News]]|date=March 16, 2006|access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref>

====Sexual harassment scandal and resignation====
In December 2017, two of Franks' former aides accused him of [[sexual harassment|sexually harassing]] them by pushing them to serve as [[surrogacy|surrogate mothers]] for his wife.<ref name="nyt-resigned"/><ref name="nyt-resign"/> In response, the [[United States House Committee on Ethics|House Ethics Committee]] announced that it would investigate allegations of sexual harassment against Franks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=READ: Rep. Trent Franks statement on leaving Congress|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/politics/trent-franks-leaving-congress-statement/index.html|website=CNN|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Full text: Congressman Trent Franks statement on leaving Congress|url=http://politi.co/2iFXT4p|website=POLITICO|date=December 7, 2017 |language=en|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Martinez Monsivais|first=Pablo|date=July 2017|title=Full text: Congressman Trent Franks statement on leaving Congress|url=https://media.washtimes.com/media/misc/2017/12/07/Trent_Franks_Leaving_Congress.pdf|website=media.washtimes.com|volume=The Washington Times|pages=1|via=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=CNN | date = December 8, 2017 | title = Rep. Trent Franks' absolutely bizarre resignation letter |first=Chris |last=Cillizza |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/politics/trent-franks-statement-analysis/index.html }}</ref>

On December 7, 2017—hours after the ethics investigation became public—Franks announced he would resign from the House on January 31, 2018. In a statement, Franks acknowledged discussing surrogacy with the aides and acknowledged that he inadvertently discussed it in a manner that was "insensitive," and regretted "having caused distress" to his former aides. While he denied the other allegations, he stated that "the current cultural and media climate" made a fair hearing impossible, and was resigning to prevent harm to "those things I love most."<ref name="nyt-resign" /><ref name="frat-house"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/12/07/full-text-arizona-congressman-trent-franks-resignation-letter-harassment-claims/933124001/|title=Full text of Arizona Rep. Trent Franks' resignation letter|website=The Arizona Republic}}</ref> The following day, after his wife was admitted to the hospital, Franks announced his immediate resignation.<ref name="nyt-resigned"/>

It later emerged that one of the aides' friends advised the aide to seek counsel from [[Traditional Values Coalition]] president Andrea Lafferty. When the aide was ready to come forward, Lafferty arranged a meeting with staffers from [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Paul Ryan]]'s office. Lafferty told [[CNN]] that she was outraged that "somebody who purports to be a conservative and a Christian" could behave in the manner that Franks allegedly behaved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/politics/trent-franks-surrogacy-accuser/index.html|title=Accuser's confidante: Trent Franks offered $5M for surrogacy|first=Sunien|last=Seferaty|website=[[CNN]]|date=December 8, 2017}}</ref> According to a statement from Ryan, his general counsel interviewed the ex-aide on November 28, during which she mentioned the second aide's claims of misconduct. After Ryan's staff was able to corroborate the second aide's claims, Ryan was briefed on November 29. On November 30, Ryan called Franks in and confronted him with the allegations. After Franks "did not deny" the allegations, Ryan referred the matter to the Ethics Committee and demanded Franks' resignation. Subsequent talks between Ryan and Franks led to Franks tendering his resignation on December 7. In his statement, Ryan said that he found the aides' claims "credible," and acted in accordance with his duty to ensure "a safe workplace in the House."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speaker.gov/press-release/statement-office-speaker|title=Statement from the Office of the Speaker|first=Paul|last=Ryan|author-link=Paul Ryan|publisher=[[United States House of Representatives]]|date=December 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217140005/https://www.speaker.gov/press-release/statement-office-speaker|archive-date=December 17, 2017}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]
** [[United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces|Subcommittee on Strategic Forces]]
** [[United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
* [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]
** [[United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law|Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law]]
** [[United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution|Subcommittee on the Constitution]] (Chair)

===Caucus memberships===
* DUI Caucus
* [[Congressional Hispanic Conference]]
* Education Freedom Caucus
* [[Congressional Human Rights Caucus|Human Rights Caucus]]
* India Caucus
* Israel Allies Caucus<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iiacf.org/usa/member_directory/ |title=Israel Allies Caucus |access-date=January 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708033649/http://www.iiacf.org/usa/member_directory/ |archive-date=July 8, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* [[International religious freedom caucus]]
* [[Liberty Caucus]]
* [[Tea Party Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Constitution Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership|publisher=Congressional Constitution Caucus|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308004451/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Working Group on Judicial Accountability
* Working Group on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

===Legislation sponsored===
* Congressman Franks sponsored into law The Critical Infrastructure Protection Act<ref>{{Cite web|title=Critical Infrastructure Protection Act 8 of 2019 (English / isiXhosa) {{!}} South African Government|url=https://www.gov.za/documents/critical-infrastructure-protection-act-8-2019-english-isixhosa-28-nov-2019-0000|website=www.gov.za|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> to protect America's critical infrastructure including protecting the electric grid against natural and weaponized electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
* On April 9, 2013, Franks introduced the [[Keep the Promise Act of 2013 (H.R. 1410; 113th Congress)]].<ref name=1410allactions>{{cite web|title=H.R. 1410 – All Actions|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1410/all-actions/|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=September 16, 2013}}</ref> If enacted, the bill would prevent the Arizona [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe [[Tohono O'odham]] from building a planned casino in the Phoenix metropolitan area.<ref name=azJuly25>{{cite news|last=McGlade|first=Caitlin|title=House bill to halt West Valley casino moves forward|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20130725bill-halt-casino-moves-forward.html|access-date=September 16, 2013|newspaper=azcentral.com|date=July 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="azJuly252">{{cite news|last=McGlade|first=Caitlin|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20130725bill-halt-casino-moves-forward.html|title=House bill to halt West Valley casino moves forward|date=July 25, 2013|newspaper=azcentral.com|access-date=September 16, 2013}}</ref> The Keep the Promise Act of 2013 would prohibit Class II and III gaming on land within the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area that is acquired after April 9, 2013, by the Secretary of the Interior in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1410|title=H.R.1410 – 113th Congress (2013–2014): Keep the Promise Act of 2013|last=Franks|first=Trent|date=September 18, 2013|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref> The bill would terminate that prohibition on January 1, 2027.<ref name="auto"/>

Opponents of the bill gave several reasons for their opposition. Representative [[Tom McClintock]] ([[R-CA]]) was opposed to the bill because it would hurt job creation and break a promise to the Tohono O'odham tribe.<ref name="azJuly252" /> [[Tohono O’odham Nation]] Chairman [[Ned Norris Jr.]] objected to the bill because it is "special interest legislation" that creates a "no-competition zone" for the two tribes that already have casinos in that area.<ref name="azJuly252" />

Proponents of the bill included Gila River Indian Community Gov. Gregory Mendoza, who was in favor of the bill because he believes that the compact not to build more casinos needs to be respected.<ref name="azJuly252" /> The [[Tohono Oʼodham Nation|Tohono O’odham Nation]] argues that federal rules allow casinos on reservation land created after October 17, 1988, if they are part of a settlement of a land claim. The Nation claims the West Valley land is partial replacement to settle a claim for the {{convert|10000|acre|km2}} of its lands that were flooded as a result of the construction of the [[Painted Rock Dam]] on the [[Gila River]].<ref name="Wanna Bet">{{citation|last=Alonzo|first=Monica|title=Wanna Bet? The Tohono O'odham Want to Build a Casino in the West Valley – Now It's Up to the Feds to Make It Happen or Break Another Promise to the Tribe|date=April 29, 2010|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2010-04-29/news/wanna-bet-the-tohono-o-odham-want-to-build-a-casino-in-the-west-valley-now-it-s-up-to-the-feds-to-make-it-happen-or-break-another-promise-to-the-tribe/|publisher=Phoenix New Times}}</ref>
* On July 14, 2017, Franks introduced Amendment No. 13 to the [[National Defense Authorization Act]] of 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/13/house-vote-study-of-islam-240537|title=House rejects controversial study of Islam|website=[[Politico]]|date=July 13, 2017 }}</ref> The amendment called for a database surveying [[Islam in the United States|American Muslim]] leaders to identify violent and "unorthodox" strains of [[Islam]]. Critics of the amendment, including, most notably, Minnesota Democratic congressman [[Keith Ellison]], the first Muslim elected to the [[United States Congress]], repudiated the amendment as an attempt to subject one religion to special scrutiny. Ultimately, the amendment was defeated 217–208, with 27 House Republicans joining all the House Democrats in voting in opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/house-rejects-trent-franks-crazy-amendment-on-islamic-thought-9499949|title=Trent Franks Proposed What? His Amendment to Survey Islamic Thought Shot Down in House|first=Joseph|last=Flaherty|date=July 14, 2017}}</ref>

Ultimately, the amendment was defeated 217–208, with 27 House Republicans joining all the House Democrats in voting in opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll372.xml|title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 372|website=clerk.house.gov|access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref> 
* in Congress, Franks was a chief opponent of abortion. He was the original sponsor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Text – H.R.3504 – 114th Congress (2015–2016): Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3504/text|last=Franks|first=Trent|date=September 22, 2015|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> which began in 2017 on his initiative and then continued in 2019 thanks to Senator [[Ben Sasse]];<ref>{{Cite web|title=Text – S.311 – 116th Congress (2019–2020): Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/311/text|last=Sasse|first=Ben|date=February 25, 2020|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act;<ref>{{Cite web|title=H.R.147 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) of 2017|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/147|last=Franks|first=Trent|date=January 23, 2017|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. All three bills passed the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] with the latter becoming the first bill in history to pass either chamber of Congress affording affirmative protection to a fetus.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==Electoral history==

{{Election box begin no change|title=Arizona House of Representatives 20th District Election, 1984}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate=Debbie McCune (incumbent)
|votes=15,575
|percentage=30.7
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Trent Franks
|votes=13,166
|percentage=25.9
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate=Glenn Davis (incumbent)
|votes=12,937
|percentage=25.5
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=[[Richard Adams (inventor)|Richard Adams]]
|votes=9,125
|percentage=18.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Arizona House of Representatives 20th District Election, 1986}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate=Debbie McCune (incumbent)
|votes=13,866
|percentage=32.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate=Bobby Raymond
|votes=10,258
|percentage=23.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Trent Franks (incumbent)
|votes=10,063
|percentage=23.4
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Georgia Hargan
|votes=8,825
|percentage=20.5
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Arizona's 4th Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 1994}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=John Shadegg
|votes=26,489
|percentage=43.1
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Trent Franks
|votes=18,574
|percentage=30.2
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Jim Bruner
|votes=12,718
|percentage=20.7
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Joan Jugloff
|votes=3,678
|percentage=6.0
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Arizona's 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2002}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Trent Franks
|votes=14,749
|percentage=27.7
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Lisa Atkins
|votes=13,952
|percentage=26.2
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=John Keegan
|votes=10,560
|percentage=19.8
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Scott Bundgaard
|votes=8,701
|percentage=16.3
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Dusko Jovicic
|votes=3,805
|percentage=7.1
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Mike Schaefer
|votes=933
|percentage=1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party=Republican Party (United States)
|candidate=Dick Hensky
|votes=618
|percentage=1.2
}}
{{Election box end}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Arizona's 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2004
|-
! Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
|Republican
|'''Trent Franks (inc.)'''
|45,261
|63.6
|-
|Republican
|[[Rick Murphy]]
|25,871
|36.4
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Arizona's 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2010
|-
! Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
|Republican
|'''Trent Franks (inc.)'''
|81,252
|80.9
|-
|Republican
|Charles Black
|19,220
|19.1
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Arizona|2|}}: Results 2002–2010<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=January 10, 2008 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226190314/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=December 26, 2007 }}</ref>
! Year
!
! Democratic
! Votes
! Pct
!
! Republican
! Votes
! Pct
!
! 3rd party
! Party
! Votes
! Pct
!
! 3rd party
! Party
! Votes
! Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2002|2002]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Randy Camacho
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |61,217
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |36.6%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Trent Franks'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |100,359
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |59.9%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Edward R. Carlson
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |5,919
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3.5%
| |'''*'''
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2004|2004]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Randy Camacho
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |107,406
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |38.5%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Trent Franks'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |165,260
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |59.2%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Powell Gammill
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |6,625
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2.4%
| |'''*'''
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2006|2006]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |John Thrasher
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |89,671
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |38.9%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Trent Franks'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |135,150
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |58.6%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Powell Gammill
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |5,734
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2.5%
| |'''*'''
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2008|2008]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |John Thrasher
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |125,611
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |37.2%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Trent Franks'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |200,914
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |59.4%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Powell Gammill
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |7,882
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2.3%
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |William Crum
|{{Party shading/Green}} |[[Green Party (United States)|Green]]
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |3,616
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |1.1%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2010|2010]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |John Thrasher
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |82,891
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |31.1%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Trent Franks'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |173,173
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |64.9%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Powell Gammill
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |10,820
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |4.1%
| |'''*'''
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Arizona's 8th Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2012
|-
! Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
|Republican
|'''Trent Franks (inc.)'''
|57,257
|83.2
|-
|Republican
|Tony Passalacqua
|11,572
|16.8
|-
|Republican/Write-in
|Helmuth Hack
|18
|nil
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Arizona|8|}}: Results 2012<ref>[[United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2012]]</ref>
! Year
!
! Democratic
! Votes
! Pct
!
! Republican
! Votes
! Pct
!
! 3rd party
! Party
! Votes
! Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2012|2012]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Gene Scharer
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |95,635
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35.1%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Trent Franks'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |172,809
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |63.3%
|
|{{Party shading/Other}} |Stephen Dolgos
|{{Party shading/Other}} |Americans Elect
|{{Party shading/Other}} align="right" |4,347
|{{Party shading/Other}} align="right" |1.6%
|
|}

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan = 6 | Arizona's 8th Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2014
|-
! colspan=2 | Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|'''Trent Franks (inc.)'''
|53,771
|73.3
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
|Republican
|Clair Van Steenwyk
|19,629
|26.7
|-
! colspan=3; style="text-align:right;"| Total
! align=center | 73,400
! align=center | 100
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan = 6 | Arizona's 8th Congressional District Election, 2014
|-
! colspan=2 | Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| '''[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]'''
| '''Trent Franks (inc.)'''
| align=center | '''128,710'''
| align=center | '''75.8%'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Americans Elect}}
| Americans Elect
| Stephen Dolgos
| align=center | 41,066
| align=center | 24.2%
|-
! colspan=3; style="text-align:right;"| Total
! align=center | 169,776
! align=center | 100
|}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Arizona's 8th Congressional District Republican Primary Election, 2016
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Trent Franks (inc.)
  |votes      = 59,042
  |percentage = 71.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Clair Van Steenwyk
  |votes      = 24,042
  |percentage = 28.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 83,084
  |percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Arizona’s 8th congressional district, 2016
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Trent Franks (inc)
  |votes      = 204,942
  |percentage = 68.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Mark Salazar
  |votes      = 93,954
  |percentage = 31.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = ''Hayden Keener III (write-in)''
  |votes      = 75
  |percentage = nil
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 298,971
  |percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Personal life==
Franks and his wife, Josephine, have been married since 1980; they are members of the North Phoenix [[Baptist]] Church.<ref name=politico-bio>{{cite web|title=The Arena: – Rep. Trent Franks Bio|url=http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/rep_trent_franks.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625173323/http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/rep_trent_franks.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2010|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=October 21, 2013|quote=[...] Congressman Franks and his wife Josephine have been married since 1979. They live in Peoria with their children, Joshua and Emily, and are members of North Phoenix Baptist Church. [...]}}</ref> Franks' wife, Josephine, is an immigrant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/how-many-latinos-serve-in-congress-depends-on-whom-you-ask|title=How Many Latinos Serve In Congress? Depends On Whom You Ask|date=February 5, 2013|newspaper=Fox News|access-date=February 22, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{C-SPAN|1003550}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=f000448 | votesmart=28399 | fec=H4AZ04024 | congress=trent-franks/1707 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ed Pastor]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Arizona|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Arizona's 2nd congressional district]]|years=2003–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ron Barber]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ron Barber]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Arizona|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Arizona's 8th congressional district]]|years=2013–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Debbie Lesko]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Steve Pearce (politician)|Steve Pearce]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William J. Green III]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{ArizonaUSRepresentatives}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=108th–115th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Arizona|Arizona]]}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/108}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/109}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/110}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/111}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/112}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/113}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/114}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/115}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franks, Trent}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Arizona State Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century Arizona politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:Arizona politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Baptists from Arizona]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:People from Montrose County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]