NW Valley Times

Arizona State Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) was elected by her peers to serve as Senate Majority Leader. A former perioperative nurse and nurse manager in the medical field, Shamp was first elected to represent Arizona’s 29th Legislative District in Nov. 2022. 

Shamp, a resident of Surprise, graduated from Arizona State University cum laude in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology. She also graduated from Grand Canyon University magna cum laude in Nursing. 

In a recent interview with NW Valley Times, Shamp discussed her priorities and agenda for the State Senate in 2025.

NWVT: Why did you originally run for the Arizona State Senate?

I’m known as the nurse who was fired for refusing to get the jab during the “COVID-19 pandemic,” and decided to run for office to ensure Arizonan’s freedoms are never stripped like that again. 

I’m not a politician, I’m just a nurse who saw a need. The citizens have entrusted me with that responsibility. It’s an honor that I don’t take lightly. I will always fight for the individual, just like I fight for my patients.

NWVT: What unique skills as a nurse manager do you bring to the position of Senate Majority Leader?

A perioperative nurse manager by trade, I bring a unique perspective. My approach as Senate Majority Leader will be similar to managing a hospital department, where collaboration and attention to detail are key. 

I have that same kind of approach when it comes to being a leader in the Senate and it is making sure that we're doing everything for the citizens of Arizona that we have been tasked to do. Individual districts have different issues and needs, and those need to be considered, much like I considered in the hospital with the different modalities.

NWVT: How else has your healthcare background helped shape your leadership style?

Growing up with a sick parent and spending a lot of time in hospitals gave me a profound sense of empathy and duty to help others. 

I’m a nurse all the way through to my core. I’ve always had that desire to help people. I was wired that way from the start. And I’ve learned that when you do for others, God provides for you.

NWVT: What are some of your priorities for the upcoming session?

I’m eager to build upon my work at the Legislature and double down on efforts to reform state boards and agencies in a way that benefits all Arizonans.

In fact, Republicans in both the House and Senate are unified in working toward cutting wasteful spending and increasing government efficiency in all aspects.

NWVT: Speaking of government efficiency, what do you think about the Trump Administration’s new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)?

I love what Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are doing with DOGE under the direction of President Trump. I believe their efforts are going to go a long way in helping our federal government run more efficiently and I think it’s wise for each state to pay attention to what they’re doing. This type of diligence should be implemented at every level of government.

Much like President-elect Trump has vowed to dismantle federal bureaucracy, the Arizona Republican Majority will work toward dismantling state bureaucracy in the upcoming Legislative session.

NWVT: Any specific areas in which you’d like to begin doing that?

We’ve seen way too much rubber stamping of random rules by state agencies. This is a surefire way to ensure spending of our taxpayer dollars continues to get greater and greater. Additionally, government boards and agencies are not there to act like a dictator. Which again, is something we continue to see here in Arizona.

For example, our state currently has the Governor’s Regulatory Review Counsel (GRRC), which according to the council’s website, “serves Arizona’s citizens and stakeholders by reviewing agency regulations and rulemakings to balance protecting Arizona consumers with reducing unnecessary or unduly burdensome regulation, while promoting public health, safety, and welfare.

I lack confidence in this group, which consists mostly of appointees of Gov. Hobbs.

In fact, I have an important message for all state boards and agencies: We’re coming for you.

NWVT: While we’re on the topic of agencies and boards, you issued a press release early this week about the Arizona Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Can you explain what’s happening there?

Absolutely. Earlier this year, I submitted a special audit request through the Joint Legislative Audit Committee following numerous complaints against the board, and even sexual misconduct allegations.

Those complaints were confirmed in the 116-page audit report released on December 20.

The audit found the Board "regularly expanded complaint investigations by subpoenaing information unrelated to complaint allegations, potentially resulting in unwarranted disciplinary actions and lengthy complaint investigations; did not always apply its statutes and rules consistently among licensees; did not report allegations of criminal wrongdoing to appropriate authorities, increasing public safety risk; made progress toward reducing its complaint backlog but did not resolve most complaints within 180 days; engaged in advocacy regarding pending legislation without clear statutory authority to do so; did not comply with some State open meeting law and conflict of interest requirements; and had not established sufficient processes to ensure consistent Board practices and communication over time."

It’s clear that this Board has to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

That’s why I fought hard to bring this misconduct to light.

These boards exist to provide practitioner accountability for the safety of their patients, so to have evidence which proves they were intentionally withholding reports of potential criminal wrongdoing to law enforcement is deeply disturbing and infuriating. 

I will be sponsoring legislation this session to prevent this abuse of authority from happening in the future, and I will continue to expose any other board or agency operating in a corrupt manner to the detriment of the safety and wellbeing of Arizonans.