Jan Brewer

Jan Brewer – Life, Career, and Notable Sayings

Meta description: Jan Brewer (born September 26, 1944) is an American politician who served as governor of Arizona from 2009 to 2015. Read her full biography, political legacy, and notable quotes.

Introduction

Janice Kay “Jan” Brewer is a Republican politician best known for serving as the 22nd governor of Arizona from 2009 to 2015. Her tenure was marked by strong stances on immigration, fiscal conservatism, and clashes with the federal government over state-federal authority. Brewer’s rise from local politics to statewide office—and her involvement in national debates—makes her a noteworthy figure in modern U.S. state governance.

Early Life and Family

Jan Brewer was born Janice Kay Drinkwine on September 26, 1944, in Hollywood, California.
She is the daughter of Edna Clarice (née Bakken) and Perry Wilford Drinkwine.
Her father worked at a U.S. Navy munitions depot as a civilian supervisor, and her mother later ran a dress store to support the family.
When she was around ten, her father’s health deteriorated, and he died when she was about eleven.
Growing up, Brewer helped her mother with the family business—cleaning, working registers, managing inventory—which contributed to her early sense of responsibility.

She graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in 1962, then attended Glendale Community College, earning a certificate as a radiological technician in 1963.

Entry into Politics & Early Career

Brewer’s interest in politics was sparked while her children were in school—she began attending school board meetings in 1981, wanting to influence education policy.
She soon realized she could expand her influence by running for the Arizona House of Representatives. In 1982 she ran for and won a seat in the State House, representing District 19.
She served in the Arizona House from 1983 to 1987, and in 1986 she ran successfully for the Arizona Senate, serving from 1987 to 1997.

In the Senate, Brewer held leadership roles—eventually becoming majority whip in 1993—and proposed legislation such as creating a lieutenant governor position (to adjust succession mechanisms) and requiring content warnings on explicit music albums.

In 1997, she was elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and served until 2003.
In 2003, she won the office of Arizona Secretary of State, a position she held until 2009.

Governorship (2009–2015)

Succession & First Actions

Brewer became governor of Arizona on January 21, 2009, when Janet Napolitano resigned to join the Obama administration. As Secretary of State, Brewer was next in the line of succession.
At that time, Arizona was facing a significant fiscal deficit (roughly $3 billion). Brewer responded by instituting substantial budget cuts and proposing a controversial sales tax increase to balance the state budget.
She also made cuts to various state services, eliminated state parks, and laid off many state employees.

Immigration & SB 1070

One of the most defining acts of Brewer’s governorship was her signing of SB 1070 in April 2010, one of the strictest immigration enforcement laws in the nation. The law allowed state law enforcement to check individuals’ immigration status, required noncitizens to carry documentation, and penalized those who aided undocumented immigrants.
The law drew national attention and legal challenges, especially from the federal government, which argued it conflicted with federal authority over immigration.
The U.S. Supreme Court later struck down or limited several provisions of SB 1070, while upholding the provision allowing law enforcement to check immigration status during stops.

Policy Highlights & Controversies

• Brewer was a fiscal conservative, reducing state spending and cutting the deficit, though critics charged many cuts affected education, healthcare, and social services.

• She expanded gun rights in Arizona, broadening concealed carry and passing the Firearms Freedom Act to exempt in-state manufactured firearms from some federal regulations.

• Brewer took steps to reduce environmental regulation, allowing more leeway for mining and reducing oversight under state rules.

• She opposed many provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Arizona joined a legal challenge against it, though she did support a limited Medicaid expansion in a pragmatic departure from party orthodoxy.

• In 2012, Brewer vetoed SB 1062, a religious rights bill that could have allowed businesses to refuse services based on religious objections, citing that it was too broadly written and might have unintended negative consequences.

Later Term & Exit

Brewer was elected in her own right in 2010, completing a full term.
As her governorship progressed, her approval ratings declined, partly due to ongoing legal disputes and tensions with the legislature and federal government.
In March 2014, Brewer announced she would not run for re-election, citing constitutional term limits and the desire to pass leadership to new hands.

Legacy & Influence

Jan Brewer is remembered most for elevating state-level immigration enforcement, especially via SB 1070, which symbolized and shaped national debates on state-federal balance in immigration policy.
Her tenure highlighted the power of state governors to push back on federal policies, especially under gridlocked national politics.
She also demonstrates how a political career can be built from local government through legislative service to statewide leadership, particularly by leveraging decisive issue stances (in her case, immigration and fiscal conservatism).
In more recent years, Brewer has publicly opposed election denialism within her own party, reinforcing the need to defend electoral integrity.

Personality, Strengths & Criticisms

Brewer has been viewed as outspoken, uncompromising, and willing to engage in conflict—especially with the federal government—on issues she sees as critical.
Her strengths include fiscal discipline, a bold public posture, and the ability to crystallize a strong political identity.
Critics argue that her policies were sometimes harsh, particularly in their effects on vulnerable populations, and that her confrontational style fueled polarization.
She also has been critiqued for occasional statements or claims that drew controversy—for example, her assertion that her father died fighting Nazis, which was factually inaccurate.

Famous Quotes of Jan Brewer

Here are some notable quotations attributed to Jan Brewer that reflect her political philosophy and public style:

• “A nation without borders is like a house without walls – it collapses.”

• “We cannot afford all this illegal immigration and everything that comes with it … It’s wrong! It’s wrong!”

• “Arizona, our beautiful state, was built on mining. Copper is huge here … we have the federal government coming in … telling us we can’t do this or that. We need concise, clear answers.”

• “Government just simply can’t do everything for everyone.”

• “I always tried to do what I believed is right … when I govern.”

• “It’s the federal government’s responsibility to secure our borders. We passed Senate Bill 1070 … as another tool … to protect the citizens of Arizona.”

• “I respect the office of the president.”

These quotes illustrate her emphasis on state sovereignty, immigration restriction, and a limited view of government scope.

Lessons & Reflections

1. State leadership can be powerful. A determined governor can shape national discourse, especially in contentious domains like immigration.

2. Balancing principle with pragmatism. While Brewer often acted on conviction, she also made compromises (e.g. limited Medicaid expansion) when political realities demanded.

3. Public risk and reward in controversy. Embracing divisive policies (like SB 1070) can raise a politician’s profile but invite legal and political backlash.

4. Evolving stances matter. Her later critiques of election denialism show how political figures can adapt or push back against shifts in their base.

5. Clarity of message is central. Many of her quotes are concise, forceful, and oriented to mobilize supporters; communication was central to her brand.

Conclusion

Jan Brewer’s political story is one of a local and state official rising to the governorship, pursuing ambitious policy agendas, and navigating controversy with a bold public persona. Her legacy is intertwined with debates over immigration, state rights, and the tension between federal and local authority.