Blake Masters believes his campaign for U.S. Senate will resonate with voters who are ready to focus on a candidate’s platform and skillset instead of whether a bunch of boxes are checked off on his political resume.
Masters, 35, plans to unseat Sen. Mark Kelly in the November 2022 General Election. To do so he must first prevail next year in the Republican primary where his main opponents will be current Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Fortune 500 CEO Jim Lamon.
A quick check of Masters’ professional biography includes several impressive bona fides: COO of Thiel Capital, president of Thiel Foundation, and a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. He even co-author of a book with Peter Thiel -the billionaire co-founder of PayPal- who Masters met at Stanford nearly a decade ago.
Masters has also been a behind the scenes politico, chairing the political action committee Arizonans for Strong Leadership which raised millions of dollars to ensure the Arizona Legislature kept its Republican majority in the 2020 General Election.
Arizona Daily Independent wanted to know what made Masters jump into the deep end of politics and run for Congress. We asked, and he answered:
ADI: When you look back on your life experiences, what things have given you a skillset you believe makes you qualified for Congress?
MASTERS: I think Arizonans are tired of the same old types of candidates running for office. I’ve managed huge budgets, large staffs, multiple projects at once. I’ve also been involved in politics behind the scenes — including working for President Trump’s transition team in 2016-2017. I’ve also paid close attention, and understand and can explain what’s gone wrong in this country, and how to fix it. That matters much more than having held elected office forever.
ADI: What was the spark that prompted you to even consider running for the Senate?
MASTERS: This sense that we are losing the country. I have 3 young boys –ages 7, 5, and 1– and I want them to be able to grow up in a country that works, in a country that we recognize. That won’t happen by accident. We have to fight for it.
ADI: As you contemplated whether to run, what main points did you keep going back to as to why it was the right thing to do?
MASTERS: I looked at how the race was developing and kept having the same uneasy thought: “none of these guys can beat Mark Kelly, none can articulate the path forward for the GOP that will actually resonate with voters.” That is what is driving me: the realization that if I don’t run, there’s a much too high chance that Republicans won’t take back the Senate in 2022 — and that would be disastrous for our country.
ADI: Any family considerations that played into your decision to run at this time?
MASTERS: Again, I want my kids — and your kids — to grow up in a country that works. My parents, my wife, everyone is super supportive. “Family” is precisely what motivates my run — so many of my friends want to settle down and start families, but it’s hard: at this point our culture is geared to encourage people to stay single, to be selfish, to pursue their career, don’t worry about having kids, don’t worry too much about not being able to afford to buy a home. That needs to change. This country needs to be pro-family again. We need to build an economy where you can afford to raise a family on one single income. And our legislators should be fighting for that.
ADI: Being a government outsider is often viewed by voters as either a great plus or a serious negative. How do you leverage your skillset to attract voters who think a U.S. Senator should have elected office experience?
MASTERS: Voters want someone who gets what the issues are and who is actually going to do something about it. That’s why they were so enthusiastic about President Trump. It’s not about “paying dues” or climbing the ladder. Experience matters, but usually politicians just learn the wrong lessons and become experienced in all the wrong ways. I’ve been very successful in the private sector, I’ve worked behind the scenes to help Republicans at every level of government, and I know Arizona — I grew up here.
ADI: How do you reach Arizona voters so they not only learn who you are but also get informed of your platform?
MASTERS: I am running for this Senate seat currently held by Mark Kelly, a Democrat who votes with Chuck Schumer almost in lockstep. And to introduce myself to Arizona voters, I am getting out there, driving to legislative districts across the state, meeting with Republican clubs and party activists. I have the energy and the time to take one-on-one calls with any voter. That’s a huge advantage. And unlike my opponents –who all seem like great guys– my message resonates with every age group. It’s not about the next 2-6 years; it’s about what we want our future to look like, what sort of country we’re leaving to our kids.