Jeff Flake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Flake
Official portrait, 2021
United States Ambassador to Turkey
In office January 26, 2022 – September 1, 2024
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	David M. Satterfield
Succeeded by	Michael B. Goldman (as Chargé d'Affaires)
United States Senator from Arizona
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Jon Kyl
Succeeded by	Kyrsten Sinema
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Matt Salmon
Succeeded by	Matt Salmon (redistricting)
Constituency	1st district (2001–2003) 6th district (2003–2013)
Personal details
Born	Jeffry Lane Flake (1962-12-31) December 31, 1962 (age 62) Snowflake, Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Cheryl Bae ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	5
Relatives	Jake Flake (uncle) William J. Flake (great-great-grandfather)
Education	Brigham Young University (BA, MA)

Jeffry Lane Flake (born December 31, 1962) is an American politician and diplomat. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. Later, he was a U.S. Senator for Arizona from 2013 to 2019. Flake is a member of the Republican Party. From 2022 to 2024, he was the United States Ambassador to Turkey under President Joe Biden.

Flake was born in Snowflake, Arizona. He studied at Brigham Young University. There, he earned degrees in international relations and political science. In the early 1980s, he was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa. He learned to speak Afrikaans during this time.

After returning to the U.S., Flake led the Goldwater Institute. In 2001, he was elected to the House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st congressional district. He later represented Arizona's 6th congressional district until 2013.

In 2012, Flake ran for the U.S. Senate. He won against Democratic candidate Richard Carmona. As a senator, he was part of the "Gang of Eight". This group worked on an immigration reform bill in 2013. Flake was also known for criticizing President Donald Trump. However, he often voted with Trump's policies. On October 24, 2017, Flake announced he would not run for re-election in 2018.

In 2019, Flake joined CBS News as a contributor. President Joe Biden nominated him as ambassador to Turkey. The Senate confirmed his nomination in October 2021. He officially started his role in January 2022.

Early Life and Career

Jeffry Lane Flake was born in Snowflake, Arizona. His great-great-grandfather, William J. Flake, helped name the town. Flake earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. He also received a Master of Arts degree in political science. Both degrees were from Brigham Young University.

He took two years off from college to be a missionary. He served for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He learned to speak Afrikaans during this time. Before joining Congress, he worked in public affairs. He was the executive director for the Foundation for Democracy in Namibia. He also led the Goldwater Institute.

Political Career

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (2001–2013)

Elections for the House

Flake was first elected to Congress in 2000. He represented Arizona's 1st District. This happened after Matt Salmon decided not to run again. The district was later renamed the 6th district after the 2000 census. Flake easily won his primary election.

In 2000, Flake promised to serve no more than three terms. But in 2005, he changed his mind. He decided to run for re-election in 2006. He said it was a mistake to limit his own terms. In 2006, Flake had no main opponent from the Democratic Party. He easily won against the Libertarian Party candidate.

Time in the House

Flake during the
113th Congress

Flake was part of the Republican Liberty Caucus. This group includes Republican congressmen who believe in libertarian ideas. He was also a member of the Republican Study Committee.

House Committee Work

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Serving in the U.S. Senate (2013–2019)

The 2012 Election

In February 2011, Flake announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. He wanted to fill the seat left by retiring Senator Jon Kyl. Flake won the Republican nomination easily. He then faced Richard Carmona, a former U.S. Surgeon General.

Flake won the election on November 6, 2012. He defeated Richard Carmona with 49% of the votes. His win was strong in Maricopa County, Arizona. This county is home to most of the state's population.

Time in the Senate

Flake became a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2013. He replaced Jon Kyl.

In 2014, Flake and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) were on a Discovery Channel show. They stayed on a small island in Micronesia for six days. Flake later joked that sending Senate leaders to a remote island might help them work together better.

Flake was at practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game on June 14, 2017. A shooting happened during the practice. Former President Obama called Flake to offer support to the victims.

Jeff Flake speaking at a Republican Women event in Phoenix, Arizona

Flake speaking at an event at Arizona State University in March 2018

On October 24, 2017, Flake announced he would not seek another term in the Senate. He gave a speech that strongly criticized his party and President Donald Trump. Many called it a very important speech.

Senate Committee Work

• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining
  • Subcommittee on Water and Power
• Committee on Foreign Relations
  • Subcommittee on African Affairs (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
  • Subcommittee on European Affairs
  • Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection, and Peace Corps
• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
  • Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security (Chairman)
• Special Committee on Aging

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey

Vice President Kamala Harris swearing-in Flake as Ambassador to Turkey, 2021

After Joe Biden became President in 2020, Flake was considered for an ambassador role. He was officially nominated to be the United States Ambassador to Turkey on July 13, 2021. The Senate confirmed him on October 26, 2021. Flake was sworn in on December 10, 2021. He resigned in September 2024.

Political Views

Jeff Flake describes himself as a "traditionally conservative Republican." An analysis of his voting record in 2013 showed him to be 65% conservative and 35% liberal. In 2017, The New York Times ranked him as the fourth most conservative Senator.

Budget and Economy

Flake's 113th Congressional session photo

Flake is a fiscal conservative. He often criticized government spending and wanted to reduce it. He was known for opposing "pork-barrel spending" in Congress. This refers to government money spent on local projects that may not benefit everyone.

He often asked lawmakers to explain why taxpayers should pay for their specific projects. He helped change House rules to make sure lawmakers identified their own projects.

Donald Trump

Flake was a strong critic of former President Donald Trump. In August 2017, Flake published a book called Conscience of a Conservative. In it, he shared his criticisms of Donald Trump.

In October 2017, Flake announced he would not seek re-election. He gave a speech in the Senate where he spoke out against the Trump Administration. In May 2018, Flake said Trump had "debased" the presidency. He also said Trump had a "seemingly bottomless appetite for destruction."

However, Flake often voted with Trump's positions on laws. In August 2020, Flake officially supported former Vice President Joe Biden for president. The Arizona Republican Party criticized Flake for not being loyal to the party. In September 2024, Flake announced he would support Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

Environment

In 2014, Flake worked on a bill about water rights in Arizona. This bill helped the Hualapai Native American tribe. It also set limits on water use for a mining company.

Flake and Senator John McCain also wrote to the head of the EPA. They were concerned about new rules for waterways. They believed these rules would harm Arizona's agriculture. They argued that most of Arizona's waterways do not flow all year. Despite their concerns, the bill became law in December 2014.

Senator Flake speaking at a rally hosted by the Arizona Republican Party in August 2014

Foreign Policy

In October 2002, Flake voted to allow the Iraq War. He believed it was important to stop Saddam Hussein. After the 2006 election, Flake changed his view on the war. He later voted against funding for it.

Flake supported ending the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. He also wanted to improve relations with Cuba. He believed the old policy helped keep the Castro government in power. Flake traveled to Cuba many times. He supported making it easier for Americans to visit Cuba.

Guns

On April 17, 2013, Flake voted against a bill that would have required background checks for private gun sales. He had previously suggested he might support stronger background checks. After his vote, his approval ratings dropped.

In March 2013, Flake supported a bill to prevent certain people from buying guns. This included people who had used an insanity defense or were ruled dangerous by a court.

Immigration

In 2007, Flake introduced a bill to help undocumented immigrants. It would have given them a path to legal status. It also aimed to create a guest worker program.

In 2013, Flake was part of the "Gang of Eight" in the Senate. This bipartisan group worked on a major immigration reform bill. The Senate passed the bill, but it did not pass in the House.

Flake opposed President Donald Trump's 2017 order to ban immigration from several Muslim countries. He said it was wrong to detain legal residents at airports.

'Paid Patriotism'

In 2015, Flake and Senator John McCain released a report. They called it "paid patriotism." It showed that the U.S. Department of Defense paid sports teams for patriotic displays. This included using soldiers and military equipment at games.

Social Issues

In October 2008, Esquire magazine named Flake one of the Ten Best Members of Congress. They called him a "true conservative."

In 2010, Flake voted to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." This policy had banned openly gay people from serving in the U.S. military. However, Flake had voted to ban same-sex marriage in 2004 and 2006.

In 2017, Flake voted three times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Personal Life

Flake and his wife Cheryl have been married since 1985. They live in Mesa and have five children. The Flakes are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Flake spent time as a missionary in Zimbabwe and South Africa. His uncle, Jake Flake, was a speaker in the Arizona state house.

In 2009, Flake spent a week alone on an island in the Marshall Islands. He survived by eating crabs, coconuts, and fish. He enjoyed the experience so much that he did it again in 2013. This time, he brought his two youngest sons to another island for four days.

Electoral History