Jan Brewer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Brewer
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Brewer in 2025
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| 22nd Governor of Arizona | |
| In office January 21, 2009 – January 5, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Janet Napolitano |
| Succeeded by | Doug Ducey |
| 18th Secretary of State of Arizona | |
| In office January 6, 2003 – January 21, 2009 |
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| Governor | Janet Napolitano |
| Preceded by | Betsey Bayless |
| Succeeded by | Ken Bennett |
| Member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 6, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Ed King |
| Succeeded by | Max Wilson |
| Member of the Arizona Senate from the 19th district |
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| In office January 6, 1987 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Billy Davis |
| Succeeded by | Scott Bundgaard |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 19th district |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 6, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Jane Dee Hull |
| Succeeded by | Don Kenney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Janice Kay Drinkwine
September 26, 1944 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Ronald Warren
(m. 1963; div. 1967)John Brewer
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Glendale Community College (Arizona) |
| Signature |  |
Janice Kay Brewer (born September 26, 1944) is an American politician and author. She was the 22nd governor of Arizona from 2009 to 2015. She is a member of the Republican Party. Jan Brewer was the fourth woman to be Governor of Arizona. She became governor when Governor Janet Napolitano left office. Before that, Brewer was the Secretary of State of Arizona from 2003 to 2009.
Jan Brewer was born in California. She went to Glendale Community College. There, she earned a certificate to work with X-rays. She served as a state representative and state senator for Arizona from 1983 to 1996. She also led the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
As governor, Brewer signed a law called the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. This law made it a state crime for non-citizens to be in Arizona without federal registration papers. It also allowed state police to help enforce federal immigration laws. Brewer was elected to a full term as governor in 2010.
Contents
- Jan Brewer's Early Life and Family
- Jan Brewer's Political Journey
- Key Political Ideas and Actions
- After Being Governor
- Author
- Awards
- See also
Jan Brewer's Early Life and Family
Janice Kay Drinkwine was born on September 26, 1944, in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Her parents were Edna C. and Perry Wilford Drinkwine. Her father worked at the Hawthorne Army Depot in Hawthorne, Nevada. Jan Brewer has English and Norwegian family roots.
She lived in Hawthorne until she was ten years old. Then, her family moved to California. Her father passed away when she was eleven. She finished high school in 1962. Brewer then attended Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. She earned a certificate there to be a radiological technologist.
She married John Leon Brewer and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1970. They later settled in Glendale, Arizona. Her husband became a successful chiropractor. They had three sons.
Jan Brewer's Political Journey
Starting in the State Legislature
Jan Brewer first wanted to run for the school board. But she saw a chance to run for State Representative instead. She served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1983 to 1987. After that, she became a member of the Arizona Senate, serving from 1987 to 1996.
As a state senator, she tried to create a new position: lieutenant governor. She believed the Secretary of State might not be ready to become governor if the governor left office. For her last three years as a state senator, she was the majority whip. This is a senior leadership role.
In 1996, Brewer ran for chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. She won and served on the board for six years.
Becoming Secretary of State of Arizona
In 2002, Jan Brewer decided to run for Secretary of State of Arizona. She won the primary election by a small number of votes.
As Secretary of State, Jan Brewer started a program for military troops overseas to vote by fax. Other cities, like San Francisco, later used this idea. She also helped make changes based on Arizona Proposition 200. This law required people to show proof of citizenship to register to vote or get public benefits.
Serving as Governor of Arizona
Governor Janet Napolitano was chosen by President Barack Obama to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. Arizona does not have a lieutenant governor. So, the Secretary of State is next in line to become governor. Jan Brewer became governor on January 21, 2009, after Napolitano resigned. She was Arizona's fourth woman governor.
In her first speech as governor, Brewer promised to keep taxes low. This was to attract businesses to Arizona. But less than two months later, she suggested raising taxes. This was because the state had a $4 billion budget problem.
On April 23, 2010, Brewer signed the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, also known as Arizona SB1070. This law made it a state crime for undocumented immigrants not to have their registration papers. It also required police to ask about immigration status if they had a reason. This law caused many protests.
On June 3, 2010, Brewer met with President Barack Obama. They talked about immigration along the border with Mexico. Brewer said she was hopeful for better talks between the state and federal government. About 1200 National Guard troops were sent to the border.
On November 2, 2010, Brewer was elected governor for a full term. She won with 55% of the votes. She was sworn in on January 3, 2011.
In 2011, Brewer tried to remove the head of the state's redistricting commission. This commission draws new voting district lines. The Arizona Supreme Court said her action was against the law. They put the commission head back in charge.
Brewer could not run for a second full term in 2014. The Arizona Constitution limits governors to two terms in a row. On March 12, 2014, she announced she would not try to run again.
On February 26, 2014, Brewer vetoed a bill called Arizona SB 1062. This bill would have allowed business owners to refuse service to certain groups.
Key Political Ideas and Actions
Managing the State Budget
When Brewer became governor in 2009, Arizona faced a huge budget problem. It was one of the worst in the country. To fix this, she worked to make the state government smaller. She focused on funding important services like public safety and education.
She also suggested a temporary sales tax increase for three years. Voters approved this. The tax was meant to raise money to help reduce the state's large debt. The temporary sales tax ended in 2014 as planned.
Boosting the Economy
Brewer created the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). This group helps attract new businesses to Arizona. It also helps existing businesses grow. The ACA has helped create many new jobs in Arizona.
Arizona Biomedical Corridor
In 2013, Arizona State University, the Mayo Clinic, and the City of Phoenix started the Arizona Biomedical Corridor. This project aims to create new research and education facilities. These facilities will work closely with the Mayo Hospital.
Tax Changes
During Brewer's time, Arizona's tax rules changed a lot. She lowered taxes for businesses and changed corporate income tax. She also worked to make tax filing simpler for people and businesses.
Education Initiatives
K-12 School Reforms
Brewer put in place policies that gave schools A-F letter grades. She also gave more money to schools where students improved. Teachers were evaluated and rewarded based on how well they taught, not just how long they had worked.
Supporting Charter Schools
Brewer made it easier for students to attend private schools. She increased tax credits for school tuition and created scholarship accounts. Since 2010, more students have enrolled in charter schools.
Ethnic Studies Ban
On May 11, 2010, Brewer signed a law that stopped the teaching of Ethnic Studies classes in Arizona public schools.
Higher Education Growth
Since 2010, Arizona's public colleges and universities have given out more degrees and certificates.
Healthcare Efforts
Arizona joined other states to challenge the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in court. The court upheld most of the ACA's rules. Brewer later supported a plan to expand Medicaid in Arizona using federal money from the ACA. This was to help more people get healthcare.
She also directed the Arizona Department of Health Services to combine mental and physical health care services. This was for people with serious mental illnesses.
Helping Children and Families
Brewer changed the Child Protective Services (CPS) department. She created a new agency called the Department of Child Safety (DCS). Its main goal is to protect children in Arizona who have been abused or neglected. This new agency worked to investigate all cases that had not been looked into before.
Brewer also created the Arizona SERVES Task Force. This group helps state government work better with non-profit and community groups.
Changes in State Government
As governor, Brewer changed how the state government hired and managed its employees. She aimed for a system more like private companies. This included rewarding employees who performed well.
She also made changes to the state retirement plan. She ended the retirement plan for elected officials. She also made it harder to qualify for state retirement.
Border Security and Immigration
On July 11, 2010, Brewer announced that $10 million from the federal government would be used for border security. This money was mostly meant for education.
She signed Arizona SB 1070 into law in 2010. This law made it a state crime for non-citizens to be in Arizona without the right documents. Brewer defended this law when the Obama Administration challenged it in court. She also asked President Obama to use the National Guard and Border Patrol to secure the border.
Brewer also stopped state and local governments from giving public benefits to undocumented immigrants. She supported sending the Arizona National Guard to the border to increase security.
Gun Laws
Brewer signed laws that made it easier for people to carry guns in Arizona. She stopped local governments from making stricter gun laws than the state. She also allowed people to carry concealed guns in restaurants and bars, unless the business said no. She allowed U.S. citizens to carry a concealed gun without a permit.
Guns & Ammo magazine has called Arizona the best state for gun owners.
In July 2009, Brewer signed a law allowing people to carry concealed guns in bars or restaurants if they don't drink alcohol. She also signed a law that prevents property owners from banning guns stored in locked cars in their parking lots. In April 2010, she signed a law that removed the permit requirement for carrying a concealed gun in Arizona.
Protecting Natural Resources
Under Brewer, Arizona worked to reduce the risk of forest fires. They did this by thinning about 29,000 acres of state forest land.
She also helped negotiate a deal for a natural gas pipeline. This pipeline travels through state land to the border with Mexico. Brewer also directed the Arizona Department of Water Resources to create a plan for Arizona's water use for the future.
Energy Initiatives
Under Brewer, Arizona became one of the top states for solar energy. In 2014, Brewer announced the creation of the Arizona Collaboratory for Advanced Energy Solutions (AZ CAES). This group works to improve Arizona's energy research and development.
Brewer also adopted a state energy plan in 2014. This plan aimed to increase solar development and promote energy education. It also worked to reduce energy use in state buildings.
Supporting the Military
As governor, Brewer worked to keep Arizona's military bases open. She also made it easier for honorably discharged military members to get in-state tuition at Arizona colleges. She also allowed children of active duty military parents to get special scholarships.
Appointing Judges
During her time as governor, Brewer appointed many judges. She chose three judges for the State Supreme Court. She also appointed judges for other state courts.
After Being Governor
After leaving office, some people thought Brewer might be chosen as a running mate for Donald Trump in 2016. She was also considered for a role in his government. In 2017, she spoke out against a healthcare plan proposed by President Trump.
In the 2022 Arizona governor's election, Brewer advised Republican candidate Kari Lake. She told Lake to stop talking about past election claims and focus more on policy debates.
Author
Jan Brewer is the author of a book called Scorpions for Breakfast: My Fight Against Special Interests, Liberal Media, and Cynical Politicos to Secure America's Border. It was published in November 2011. Her book became a New York Times Best Seller.
Awards
Brewer received the 2014/15 Heritage Award from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
See also
In Spanish: Jan Brewer para niños
- List of female secretaries of state in the United States
