11 Facts About Walter Blackman

Walter Blackman previously served in the legislature from 2019 to 2023 for District 6, and was the first black Republican elected to the Arizona State Legislature.

Walter Blackman was born on an Army base in Portugal, where his father served as an officer in the United States Air Force Security Forces.

Walter Blackman earned a Bronze Star for combat action in Iraq, and a Meritorious Service Medal.

Walter Blackman was elected in 2018 to succeed term-limited Arizona State Representative Brenda Barton as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing district 6.

Walter Blackman was the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature.

Walter Blackman is chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Earned Release Credits for Prisoners, Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair of the State and International Affairs Committee, and a Member of the Education Commission of the States, the Government Committee and the Regulatory Affairs Committee.

In 2022, Walter Blackman said that he and his family were the victims of a racist smear campaign driven by the far-right website The Gateway Pundit over his refusal to support overturning the 2020 presidential election.

Walter Blackman said that, after he gave an interview in which he argued that it would be unconstitutional for state legislators to "decertify" the results of the 2020 presidential election, his daughter received a text message calling him a racial epithet and a "RINO".

In March 2021, Walter Blackman announced his candidacy for Arizona's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 elections.

In January 2023, Walter Blackman announced his campaign for a third non-consecutive term in the State House.

Walter Blackman won the general election in November 2024, and was sworn in on January 13,2025.