Russell Pearce, a former Arizona state senator known for his controversial stance on immigration and socially conservative views, has passed away at the age of 75.
He was the main sponsor of the state’s “show me your papers” law and the first state lawmaker to be recalled in Arizona’s history. Pearce’s death was confirmed by his sister, Kathy Pearce, who stated that he had fallen ill earlier in the week and passed away at a Mesa hospital.
Russell Pearce, a former Arizona senator, passes away at age 75.
Russell Pearce, a former Arizona state lawmaker and the main sponsor of Senate Bill 1070, also known as the “show me your papers” law, has died at the age of 75. He passed away at a Mesa hospital after falling ill earlier in the week, according to his sister Kathy Pearce.
Pearce gained national attention for his socially conservative views and efforts to crack down on undocumented immigrants in Arizona, but was also the first state lawmaker to be recalled in the state’s history.
“Pearce was a God-fearing man and loved his country with all his heart. He was an ardent champion for secure borders and gave his all when it came to preventing the violence associated with dangerous cartel encroaching into our communities,”.
The Senate Republicans wrote in a statement:
Overview of Russell Pearce’s Career
Russell Pearce was a far-right politician who served in the Arizona State Senate as a Republican. He gained national attention as the lead sponsor of Arizona SB1070, an anti-illegal immigration law that was passed in 2010.
Recall Election and Resignation from the Arizona GOP:
In January 2011, Russell Pearce was elected President of the Arizona Senate, but he was recalled in November of that year, making him the first state representative to be recalled in Arizona’s history.
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He later resigned as the Vice-Chair of the Arizona GOP in September 2014 due to controversy over his comments about eugenics and low-income women receiving Medicaid.
Arizona SB1070 and Controversy:
Arizona SB1070, the anti-illegal immigration law sponsored by Pearce, faced widespread criticism and legal challenges. Pearce himself faced controversy and criticism for his views on immigration and eugenics.
Early Life and Educational Journey of Russell Pearce
Russell Pearce was born on June 23, 1947 in Mesa, Arizona. He held an American nationality and was of white ethnicity. Pearce attended the University of Phoenix to earn a BA in Management, and later enrolled at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
He also attended the University of Colorado’s Advanced Executive Development and Arizona State University’s Motor Vehicle Legal and Law College, as well as the University of Arizona’s Budget and Appropriations. He also completed courses at the Arizona Supreme Court and Arizona Judicial College.
Before entering politics, Pearce spent over 20 years working in law enforcement. He later served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009 before being elected to the Arizona Senate in 2008.
In January 2011, he was elected President of the Arizona Senate, but he was recalled in November of that year, making him the first state representative to be recalled in Arizona’s history. In 2014, he resigned as the Vice-Chair of the Arizona GOP due to controversy over his comments about eugenics and low-income women receiving Medicaid.
Pearce lived in Mesa, Arizona with his wife, LuAnne, and their five children and three adopted grandchildren.
Russell Pearce Marriage and Family Life
Russell Pearce was married to his wife, LuAnne, and the couple had five children together: Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin, and Joshua. They also adopted three grandchildren, Wyatt, Ethan, and Tatum. Pearce lived with his family in Mesa, Arizona.
In addition to his political career, Pearce was known for his strong religious beliefs and was described as a “God-fearing man.”
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He was passionate about his country and worked to prevent violence associated with dangerous cartels in his community. However, he faced criticism and controversy over his views on immigration and eugenics.
In 2014, he resigned from his position as Vice-Chair of the Arizona GOP after making eugenicist comments on his radio program about forcing sterilization on low-income women receiving Medicaid. Despite this, Pearce remained a vocal and influential figure in Arizona politics until his passing in 2021 at the age of 75.
Russell Pearce FAQ
Russell Pearce was an American politician known for his far-right views and his role as the lead sponsor of Arizona’s SB1070, an anti-illegal immigration law.
Russell Pearce passed away at the age of 75 due to an illness.
Arizona SB1070 was a law that required police officers to check the immigration status of individuals they suspected of being in the country illegally and made it a state crime to be an undocumented immigrant. The bill faced widespread criticism and legal challenges.
