Nancy K. Barto (born in Chicago, Illinois) is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Arizona State Senate from 2021 to 2023. She previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 and the Arizona Senate representing District 15 from 2013 to 2019. Barto served consecutively in the Arizona State Legislature from January 2007 until January 10, 2011, in the Arizona House of Representatives District 7 seat, then in the Arizona Senate in the District 7 seat from January 10, 2011, until January 14, 2013.
Tenure in office Barto sponsored a bill to prohibit cities and counties in Arizona from banning plastic bags. The governor signed the bill into law in April 2015.
A social conservative, Barto has promoted anti-abortion legislation.Bob Christie, Barto declares victory in race against sitting state senator, Associated Press (August 6, 2020). She is often allied with the Center for Arizona Policy, a Christian right group.Julia Shumway, Barto holds slim lead in LD15 showdown, Arizona Capitol Times (August 4, 2020). In 2010, Barto sponsored a measure to extend Arizona's two-month mandatory waiting period to obtain a divorce to six months.James King, State Representative Nancy Barto Wants to Make People Wait Longer to Finalize Their Divorce, Phoenix New Times (February 12, 2010), In 2020, while in the state House, Barto sponsored legislation that banned sex education before the fifth grade and requiring written permission from parents (an "opt-in") before students could be taught about HIV/AIDS, sexuality, gender identity or gender expression.Jonathan K. Cooper, Arizona bill limits sex ed, discussion of sexual orientation, Associated Press (March 2, 2021).Bob Christie, House panel OK's tighter school sex education rules, Associated Press (March 24, 2021). In 2020, she narrowly ousted incumbent state Senator Heather Carter, defeating her in a Republican primary challenge from the right following a heated race.
As chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, Barto sponsored anti-vaccination bills, and supporting vaping legislation supported by the tobacco industry. Public health officials warned that Barto's three bills in 2019 to expand vaccination exemptions and discourage vaccination would reduce immunization rates in Arizona and endanger public health. One bill, HB2470, would have added a non-medical "religious belief" exemption for childhood vaccines, and removed a signature requirement for parents.Jonathan J. Cooper, Arizona lawmakers consider religious exemption for vaccines, Associated Press (February 21, 2019). The proposed repeal would end a requirement that parents exempting children from vaccines acknowledge the risk of serious illness and death from infectious disease.Howard Fischer, Vetoes threatened for vaccination proposals in Arizona Legislature, Capitol Media Services (February 28, 2019). Another bill, HB2471, would require doctors to inform parents about potential risks of vaccines and how to file for injury claims related to vaccines. The third bill, HB2472 would require doctors to offer a blood test prior to vaccination; the test would determine if a child already possesses the antibodies that would be developed from a vaccine.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona, Barto promoted baseless claims that hydroxychloroquine was a COVID-19 cure, and discouraged COVID-19 vaccination.Dennis Welch, Two state senate candidates take different positions on COVID-19 vaccine, if available, KTVK 3TV & KPHO CBS 5 (July 27, 2020).
In 2020, Barto was one of 13 Arizona Republican state legislators who supported Donald Trump's failed attempt to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.Jeremy Duda, Arizona Republicans back Texas AG's attempt to overturn election, Arizona Mirror (December 10, 2020).
In 2022, she sponsored legislation that banned abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Barto lost reelection to Christine Marsh.
Elections 2006: To challenge House District 7 incumbent Republican Representatives Ray Barnes and David Smith, Barto ran in the four-way September 12, 2006 Republican Primary; Barto placed first with 7,218 votes and Representative Barnes placed second; in the five-way November 7, 2006 General election, Barto took the first seat with 29,952 votes and Representative Barnes took the second seat ahead of Democratic nominees Marilyn Fox, Jeanne Lunn, and Libertarian candidate Jim Iannuzo, who had run for a House seat in 2004.
+ Summary of the 2006 Arizona Republican Primary Election for State House District 7 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto† 7,218 38.7% Republican Ray Barnes† 4,724 25.3% Republican David Burnell Smith 4,392 23.5% Republican Howard Sprague 2,331 12.5% Total18,665100% † Won nomination for general election
+ Summary of the 2006 Arizona General Election for State House District 7 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto 29,952 29.7% Republican Ray Barnes 27,897 27.7% Democratic Marilyn Fox 21,143 21.0% Democratic Jeanne Lunn 2,331 19.5% Libertarian Jim Iannuzo 2,128 2.1% Total100,721100%
'2008: Barto, Republican Representative Barnes, Democratic nominee Jeanne Lunn, and Libertarian candidate Jim Iannuzo were unopposed for their September 2, 2008 primaries, setting up a rematch; in the four-way November 4, 2008 General election, Barto took the first seat with 46,854 votes and Representative Barnes took the second seat ahead of Democratic nominee Jeanne Lunn and Libertarian candidate Jim Iannuzo.
+ Summary of the 2008 Arizona General Election for State House District 7 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto 46,854 36.6% Republican Ray Barnes 40,471 31.6% Democratic Jeanne Lunn 31,753 24.8% Libertarian Jim Iannuzo 8,966 7.0% Total128,044100%
2010: When Republican Senator Jim Waring ran for Phoenix City Council and left the Senate District 7 seat open, Barto and Representative Barnes both ran in the four-way August 24, 2010 Republican Primary, where Barto placed first with 10,475 votes (46.2%); in the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 41,849 votes (67.2%) against Democratic nominee Eric Shelley.
+ Summary of the 2010 Arizona Republican Primary Election for State Senate District 7 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto† 10,475 46.2% Republican Ray Barnes 7,461 32.8% Republican Bob Green 3,254 14.3% Republican Brad Buch 1,503 6.6% Total22,693100% † Won nomination for general election
+ Summary of the 2010 Arizona General Election for State Senate District 7 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto 41,849 67.2% Democratic Eric Shelley 20,441 32.8% Total62,290100%
2012: State Senator – District No. 15 Redistricted to District 15, Barto was unopposed for the August 28, 2012 Republican Primary, winning with 19,162 votes, and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 58,283 votes (73.2%) against Libertarian nominee Dennis Grenier.
+ Summary of the 2012 Arizona General Election for State Senate District 15 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto 58,213 73.1% Libertarian Dennis Grenier 21,384 26.9% Total79,597100%
2014: State Senator – District No. 15: Barto defeated David Ryan in the primary, then ran unopposed in the general election.
+ Summary of the 2014 Arizona Republican Primary Election for State Senate District 15 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto† 13,585 62.9% Republican David Ryan 8,012 37.1% Total21,597100% † Won nomination for general election
2016: State Senator – District No. 15 Barto ran unopposed in the primary, then defeated the Democratic candidate, Tonya MacBeth, in the general election.
+ Summary of the 2016 Arizona General Election for State Senate District 15 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto 62,691 63.3% Democratic Tonya K MacBeth 36,414 36.7% Total99,105100%
2018: State Representative – District No. 15: Barto and John Allen ran unopposed in the primary, then both defeated the Democratic candidates, Julie Gunnigle and Jennifer Samuels, in the general election.
+ Summary of the 2018 Arizona General Election for State House District 15 Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Nancy Barto 51,305 29.1% Republican John Allen 49,279 27.9% Democratic Jennifer Samuels 38,565 21.9% Democratic Julie Gunnigle 37,308 21.1% Total176,457100%
References
External links Official page at the Arizona State Legislature Campaign site