Wendy Rogers (politician)
Wendy Rogers (born July 24, 1954) is an American far-right politician of the Republican Party. First elected in 2020, She is the Arizona State Senator representing Legislative District 7.
Wendy Rogers
6th district (2021–2023)
7th district (2023–present)
July 24, 1954
Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
2
Harry Lovejoy Rogers (great-grandfather)
1976–1996
Rogers was an U.S. Air Force officer from 1976 to 1996. Before winning election to the state Senate, she unsuccessfully ran for various state and federal offices between 2010 and 2018. In 2020, Rogers mounted a successful primary challenge against incumbent State Senator Sylvia Allen and went on to defeat the Democratic nominee in the general election. Rogers was initially elected to represent Legislative District 6, later switching districts in response to redistricting.[1]
As a candidate and member of the Arizona Senate, Rogers has courted controversy with inflammatory rhetoric, support for Donald Trump and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and her embrace of white nationalism including various antisemitic and racist conspiracy theories. She is a member of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia group whose members took part in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
In March 2022, Rogers received a rare censure by the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate for her remarks to the white nationalist America First Political Action Conference, and was the subject of an ethics investigation after suggesting that the 2022 Buffalo shooting was a U.S. government false flag operation.
Early life and education[edit]
Rogers was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, on July 24, 1954.[2] She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Michigan State University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama, and a Master of Science in National Security Studies from California State University, San Bernardino.[2]
Military career[edit]
Rogers served in the United States Air Force from 1976 to 1996, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel.[2] One of the first 100 female pilots in the Air Force, Rogers earned her flight wings in 1981 and went on to fly the C-141 Starlifter heavy military transport aircraft and C-21 "Learjet" transport.[3][4] Rogers was later stationed in Europe.[3]